Christmas Episode 1 & 2 by Trinity Cheltenham

Toby Mac - This Christmas

The Beatbox Nativity

The winning entry of a competition in 2011 called The Nativity Factor

SatNav-ivity

From YouTube: Find out why The Wise Men were late, and re-live the Nativity story in 3D, plastic brick, stop-motion glory.

Joseph's Dream

Christmas Spirit (The Right Way)

From YouTube: Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Christmas cookies... it's easy to get carried away with the spirit of the season. But is this really what Christmas is all about? Maybe this year we can have some Christmas spirit... the right

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

From Youtube: This delightful parody written by Mark Bradford and directed by Darla Robinson ( darlamason@hotmail.com) tells the Christmas story in a new....and UNIQUE....way that will touch the hearts of generations to come. Enjoy!

Christmas in a Nutshell

From YouTube: Admit it, you've given some terrible gifts. There's someone who has never given a bad gift, though...GOD! For Christmas, however, He gave us something no one could've imagined. This video illustrates the miracle of Christmas in a fun and poignant way.

Nativity Story Birth to Cross Line Drawing

Hallelujah

He chose the Shepherds - Nativity Video - Friends and Heroes

From YouTube:
He chose the Shepherds is a powerful and moving video from Friends and Heroes. It's ideal to use in your church or children's ministry this Christmas. The song is taken from the CD What about Love? -- Bible songs inspired by Friends and Heroes Series 1 -- available from www.friendsandheroes.com/songs.

A high resolution download of this video and Free Song Time activities are also available from the following link:
www.fandh.tv/nativity

In His Shoes, Chapter 2: Birth

Chapter 2 - "Birth", from In His Shoes. A 3.5 hour HD interactive documentary following the life of Jesus, in His shoes, is available in it's entirety as part of Glo, a new interactive digital Bible. www.globible.com

This chapter includes interviews and commentary from Troy Schmidt, Qustandi Shomali, Avner Goren, Dr. Norman Geisler, Max Lucado, and Dr. Joel Hunter

God Revealed - Christmas Eve Sermon Bumper

A Social Network Christmas

From Igniter Media

The Paradox of Christmas

The Paradox of Christmas from Igniter Media

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus

On Nov.13 2010 unsuspecting shoppers got a big surprise while enjoying their lunch. Over 100 participants in this awesome Christmas Flash Mob. This is a must see!

We will be using this to start our service on the SUnday before Christmas.

Bethlehem - What Was The Star?

From YouTube: This is a small segment of the full length documentary from ICHTHUS Films - "WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT BETHLEHEM?" In this segment the star of Bethlehem and modern scientific evidence is discussed. A lot of the information (But not ALL) for this section of the film was gleaned from Frederick A. Larson's amazing website - (3ws)bethlehemstar(dot)net. Our full length film under ICHTHUS - addresses other such topics as - Who were the wisemen, where did they come from, why would they want to worship a jewish king, when did they show up to see Jesus, when was Jesus really born? - etc....I hope you enjoy this 10 minute clip. THIS CLIP IS UNDER COPYRIGHT PROTECTION FROM ICHTHUS FILMS. USGCC Code 17 Section 107 non profit "Fair Use."

I found this fascinating, although I can make no comment on the accuracy of the video.

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story (2010 HD version) - as told by the children of St Paul's Church in New Zealand.

The Digital Story of The Nativity

How social media, web and mobile tell the story of the Nativity. Christmas story told through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Wikipedia, Google Maps, GMail, Foursquare, Amazon...

Times change, the feeling remains the same.

The Christmas Tale

A YouTube vidoe of a thought provoking Christmas poem with great illustraions

He Is Here

This is a wonderful telling of the Christmas story through the use of artistic drawings in motion, He Is Here is sure to remind us all why we celebrate this season.

I used this in a School Carol service on two occasions and it worked extremely well - Recommended by me!

You can find it to watch and purchase here:
http://www.shiftworship.com/category/minimovie/item/he-is-here/

Mary Did You Know

ihis is a wonderful song and I have included here two different versions from YouTube. One could be used in an all-age context with children present, the other is maybe for an adult audience.

Christmas Sand Art

This is what is called Sand Art or Sand Painting and it is amazing. Here are a selection of Christmas Sand Art that I have found on YouTube.

God's Christmas Plan

From the beginning of time, God had a plan for the first Christmas. This fast-paced video takes a look at the purpose behind Christmas and our need for a Saviour.

Politically Correct Carols

Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
A risk assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is considered safe for members of the public to travel on. The risk assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions. Please note, permission must be gained from landowners before entering their fields. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.


While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
The union of Shepherd's has complained that it breaches health and safety regulations to insist that shepherds watch their flocks without appropriate seating arrangements being provided, therefore benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available. Shepherds have also requested that due to the inclement weather conditions at this time of year that they should watch their flocks via cctv cameras from centrally heated shepherd observation huts. Please note, the angel of the lord is reminded that before shining his / her glory all around she / he must ascertain that all shepherds have been issued with glasses capable of filtering out the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and Glory.


Little Donkey
Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road
Got to keep on plodding onwards with your precious load
The RSPCA have issued strict guidelines with regard to how heavy a load that a donkey of small stature is permitted to carry, also included in the guidelines is guidance regarding how often to feed the donkey and how many rest breaks are required over a four hour plodding period. Please note that due to the increased risk of pollution from the dusty road, Mary and Joseph are required to wear face masks to prevent inhalation of any airborne particles. The donkey has expressed his discomfort at being labelled 'little' and would prefer just to be simply referred to as Mr. Donkey. To comment upon his height or lack thereof may be considered an infringement of his equine rights.


We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Whilst the gift of gold is still considered acceptable - as it may be redeemed at a later date through such organisations as 'cash for gold' etc, gifts of frankincense and myrrh are not appropriate due to the potential risk of oils and fragrances causing allergic reactions. A suggested gift alternative would be to make a donation to a worthy cause in the recipients name or perhaps give a gift voucher. We would not advise that the traversing kings rely on navigation by stars in order to reach their destinations and suggest the use of RAC routefinder or satellite navigation, which will provide the quickest route and advice regarding fuel consumption. Please note as per the guidelines from the RSPCA for Mr Donkey, the camels carrying the three kings of Orient will require regular food and rest breaks. Facemasks for the three kings are also advisable due to the likelihood of dust from the camels hooves.


Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.
You are advised that under the Equal Opportunities for All policy, it is inappropriate for persons to make comment with regard to the ruddiness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from the Reindeer Games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence. A full investigation will be implemented and sanctions - including suspension on full pay - will be considered whilst this investigation takes place.

Quoted from eBay forum post

An Open Christmas Eve

Suitable as an opener for a Chirstmas Eve Service

Christmas Paradox

Light entered darkness. Eternity entered time. The coming of Jesus is the biggest paradox in history, and it is why we celebrate.

Christmas Mystery

A vidoe by Dan Stevers

Why would the Creator of the cosmos choose to become one of us? It's a question that will lead to a life changing conclusion.

We Are Here (Christmas)

A video from Igniter Media suitable for use at the start of a Christmas service.

This Christmas Stuff

A little food for thought as we enter this beautiful season...

This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two children. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year.

Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the elevator. She pushed her way into the elevator and dragged her two children in with her and the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."

From the back of the elevator everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified Him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. . .

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be!!!

God Sent His Son

This is a video that connects Christmas with Easter. A great drawing that could be used as a conntdown before either a Christmas serive or Good Friday/Easter.

The Face of Christ

On YouTube a live drawing by artist Joe Castillo of Christ's face containing in the details his life story. Very Inspiring! It is incredible how he draws the events of Jesus' life and the result is a picture oftheFace of Christ.

Christmas Poem

The world imposes its way
governments do what they do
people get counted and taxed
taxes pay for the armies
the mighty hold sway over the meek

law-abiding Joseph does what he has to do
Mary also, in spite of her condition
no midwife comes with her
no old aunt to attend her
the birthing time is near

Bethlehem
house of bread
surrounded by wheat fields
and pasture for sheep

David’s descendent
Joseph
carrying the promise
a messiah would come in his line
was Joseph the father?

Yes.
An adopted child is truly of the line.
As good as blood.
sealed by love
love like epoxy
stronger than any bond
strong enough to carry the promise

a child is born
always a miracle
but this time more so
a birthing bed of straw
on a cold stable floor
did Joseph help
or did she manage, somehow, alone?

shepherds keep watch
on a nearby hill
the stars so brilliant
against the blackness
wheeling through the night

bright angel stands before them
heaven’s glory daylight bright
the hair stands up on their arms
they fall on their faces afraid

but the news is good
great joy for all people
a Savior born
Messiah
Lord
a baby
weak as a kitten
no bigger than a loaf of bread
in homespun wrappings
in a cow trough

Heavenly chorus
mighty blast
of music, Gloria, Gloria
peace on earth
what is that?
we’ve never known it

shepherds run, run
breathless
sheep left asleep
on the hill
vulnerable
can’t do it all
must go
must tell
must make it known
must worship

Mary pondered
what did this mean?
Did she know
that her soul would be pierced
that she would watch
her son die
to save the world?
Did she try
without success
to keep him safe?

I found this as a posting on the lectionary forum at www.desperatepreacher.com

Christmas His Nativity

His birth would change the world. He would bring forth a revolution of new life and be a shining light in a world filled with darkness. His nativity would be the greatest gift God has ever given.

Four Words

The story of Christmas can be summarized in four world-changing words:  God is with us.  But how many Christians strive to live in the reality of this beautiful truth?

My Cross Is My Christmas Tree

Another powerful and moving YouTube video that links Christmas and Easter. Not suitable for children as a video, but the song itself could be used in any setting. May well use this myself this Christmas.

Advent & Christmas Countdowns

Suitable to use as countdowns to Advent or Christmas services, although they use Biblical passages from the Incarnation stories so maybe more suitable for Christmas.

Jesus and Santa

Lately, it seems like some of us have been confusing Jesus with Santa. After all, they both have beards and several nicknames, and often, we get caught up hoping that they both bring us everything we want. However, this season let us remember that one of them comes to give us what we think we want; the other came to give us what we need.

A video on Youtube that comes from Igniter Media who can be found at: www.ignitermedia.com

Retooning The Nativity

The story of Christ's birth has been passed down from generation to generation. As time has passed, in efforts to relay the story to others, man has perhaps taken some creative license with the events of the Nativity. Though we are unsure of many elements surrounding Jesus' birth, we do know this: Two thousand years ago, a Savior was born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem.

This is a video from Igniter Media.

Nativity Story Video

This is a wonderful video to use during the Christmas Season. I can't include a copy fo the video itself as I don't heve the permissions to do that but it can be found here:
http://www.shiftworship.com/category/minimovie/item/nativity-story/

This is very similar to one for Easter and is a slow moving linne drawing that depicts the Christmas story, and wonderfully ends with three crosses linking Christmas with Easter which I believe is so important.

Peacechild

This is a version of this fantastic video on Youtube. We have used this at Christmas services for the past few years and it is very well received.

More details of the video and higher quality copies are available here:
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/peacechild.htm

A beautiful original animated video, to the song "Peace Child", written by Mike Burn at the start of the new milennium. Features a children's choir, and lovely orchestral arrangement.

Christmas Morph Countdown

I found this while looking for the other Christmas Morph video that I have listed from Youtube as well. This one is a countdown which is very useful immediatly prior to the start of a service.

Two Babies In A Manger

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools.

They were invited to teach at a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.

They related the following story in their own words.

“It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving at Bethlehem Finding no room at the inn, the couple went to the stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city.

Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from the tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manager as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.

All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.

For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately… until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked up at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told Him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so Idon’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him couldn’t because I have no gift to give him like everyone else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I could keep him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?” And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him …. for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that they splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon him nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him …. FOR ALWAYS.

By Will Fish (Quoted from various sources on the web)

A Children's Sermon or Object Lesson using a Christmas Tree

Gold Christmas Bulb

The Gold Christmas bulb reminds us of Heaven which is filled with the glory of God. The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the streets of the city are pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev.21:21). God wants you to be with Him in Heaven someday.

Have you ever seen a BLACK Christmas Bulb?

THERE IS NO Black Christmas Bulb. Just like there is no black Christmas bulb, there is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is called sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin has caused sorrow and sadness in our world. God tells us in the Bible that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). But just like there is no black Christmas bulb, God doesn't allow sin in heaven.

Red Christmas Bulb
The Red Christmas Bulb shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Jesus came into the world to save us from punishment for sin. He is called our Savior! "...the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

White Christmas Bulb
The white Christmas bulb reminds us that you can be made clean from sin. When we sin, we can tell god about our sin, and ask for rogiveness and when we do his blood washes away our sin and makes us white as snow! (I John 1:9).

The Green Christmas Tree
The green Christmas tree reminds us of the new life, everlasting life, we can receive from God. The Bible tells us to "grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).

The Blue Christmas Bulb
The blue bulb is the same as water. Jesus, to show he was giving his life to God was baptized in water.

Christmas Lights
Jesus was born as a light of the world. He came to bring us out of darkness and into the light. Do you want to walk in the light of Jesus this Christmas?

A Silver or Gold Star
You can add a star at the top of the Christmas tree as a reminder that the wisemen followed the star looking for Jesus. Will you seek Jesus this Christmas?

Applications
Use this as a presentation of the plan of salvation for a Christmas Children's sermon or as a Christmas Object Lesson.

Quoted from www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/evangelism_ideas/christmas_tree_evangelism_1.html

The True Meaning of Christmas

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Author Unknown

The Grinch

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

If using as a sermon illustration play the DVD 1:18:50 or 1:19:18 to 1:21:14
or for a shorter clip 1:20:14 to 1:21;14

From How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss

Hardly old enough to have a child

“She struck the angel Gabriel as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child, but he’d been entrusted with a message to give her, and he gave it. He told her what the child was to be named, and who he was to be, and something about the mystery that was to come upon her. ‘You mustn’t be afraid, Mary,”’ he said. As he said it, he only hoped she wouldn’t notice that beneath the great, golden wings he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a girl.”

Frederick Buechner’s description of the angel Gabriel announcing Christ’s birth to Mary; from Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who Quoted from http://www.christchurchphila.org/annunciation.html

Dear Honey

Dear Honey,

I know you mean well, I know you think you know best, but enough is enough. I have suffered in silence for long enough. I'm stepping out of the closet and opening my heart. This year as you shop for my Christmas present please don't buy me what I need. I know that I need to smell better and looks nicer, I know you like me in warm pyjamas and new underwear. But I don't know what to say when I open these gifts you give me. How can I fake enthusiasm over a pair of slippers, how can I look happy holding a new nose hair trimmer?

I’ve lied long enough, so for the sake of integrity on Christmas morning I offer you this guidance. As you look at any potential gift ask yourself these questions;

Begin with the most basic -- can he play with it? Does it to swing, bounce, shuffle or roll? Can you find a trigger, rip-cord, grip or stick-shift on it? Does it consume or oil or dog food? If it does then buy it. It doesn't matter if I already have one, this is not a time to be practical.

And if I can't play with it, don't put it back too soon before asking this question; will it enable him to see someone else play? How do you know if it will? Here's a clue, does it have a big screen and remote control? If it plugs in and makes noise you’re safe.

Question number two takes us into the area of clothing. When considering an item of men's apparel for me here is what you need to ask -- does it make him look cute or does it make him look like a hunk? If the clothing makes me look cute, drop it. If it makes me look like a hunk, buy two.

If you still can't decide, when all else fails Honey, try this -- can he eat it? Note the question is not would you eat it, do other humans eat it, or is it edible? The question is, can he eat it? Any time the answer is yes, consider yourself on safe ground.

In closing I offer you the same respect. Buy me what I want, and I will do the same for you. By the way I already have, without revealing any details I'll tell you this much -- I've found some fishing lures that double as earrings. And you thought I was insensitive.

No need to thank me, your loving husband.

Max Lucado Illustration from his talk The Perfect Gift

He came for – you! [Christmas Eve]

He came for – you! [Christmas Eve]


"…GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH…" 1 TIMOTHY 3:16

He was born in abject poverty, yet a choir of angels filled the heavens with songs of His greatness. A star that astronomers still can’t explain to this day became the compass that brought world leaders to worship at His crib.

His birth defied the laws of biology and His death defied the laws of mortality. No miracle is greater than His life and teaching. He owned no cornfields or fisheries, yet He spread a table for 5,000 and had bread and fish left over. He never walked on expensive carpeting, yet when He walked on water it supported Him; when He spoke the wind and the seas obeyed Him.

His crucifixion was the crime of all crimes, yet in God’s eyes no less a price could have made your redemption possible. When He died, few mourned, yet God hung black crepe over the sun. Those who crucified Him never once trembled at what they’d done, yet the earth shook beneath them. Sin couldn’t touch Him. Decay couldn’t claim His body. The soil that was reddened with His blood couldn’t claim His dust.

For over three years He preached the gospel, yet He wrote no books, built no cathedrals, and seemingly had no great financial resources. Yet 2,000 years later, He’s still the central character of human history, the perpetual theme of Christian preaching, the pivot around which the ages revolve – and the only Redeemer of the human race!

For every other job, God sent a man. But in order to rescue and recycle you, God became a man. Aren’t you glad?

From Word fro Today 24th December 2003

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is silent,When the star in the sky is gone,When the kings and the princes are home,When the shepherds are back with their flocks,The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Poem by Howard Thurman

T.S. Elliott: The Journey of the Magi

A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The was deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter."
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires gong out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty, and charging high prices.:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we lead all that way for Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly, We had evidence and no doubt. I have seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods. I should be glad of another death.

Just before Christmas

It was just a few days before Christmas. Two men who were next-door neighbors decided to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. While they were out in their sailboat a storm blew up. The sea grew angry and they had a hard time keeping the boat under control. As they maneuvered toward safe harbor, they hit a sandbar and the boat grounded. They jumped over and tried to push with all their might, trying to get the boat afloat.

With his feet knee deep in mud, the waves pounding him against the boat, the wind whipping his hair about wildly and his heart pounding from the effort, one man said to the other (with a knowing grin on his face), "This sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn't it?"

Source: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, p. 86.

Science Speaks

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding Christ. He says, "The chance that any man might have ...fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000." (one hundred quadrillion).

Stoner suggests that "we take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state 2 feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly... Blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up [that one marked silver dollar.] What chance would he have of getting the right one?"

Stoner concludes, "Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man,...providing they wrote them in their own wisdom."

Three Wise Women?

Do you know what would have happened if it had been "Three Wise Women" instead of "Three Wise Men"?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

Baby Jesus

A girl of ten years went with a group of family and friends to see the Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out to look more closely at a beautifully done nativity scene. "Isn't that beautiful?" said the little girl's grandmother. "Look at all the animals, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus." "Yes, Grandma," replied the granddaughter. "It is really nice. But there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn't baby Jesus ever going to grow up... he's the same size he was last year."

The Unspeakable Gift

Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left.

Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn't. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the coarse food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!"

The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the unspeakable gift!"

Another Version:

Many years ago the land of Persia was ruled by a wise and beloved Shah who cared greatly for his people and desired only what was best for them. One day he disguised himself as a poor man and went to visit the public baths. The water for the baths was heated by a furnace in the cellar, so the Shah made his way to the dark place to sit with the man who was in charge of the fire. The two men shared a meagre meal, and the Shah befriended him in his loneliness, and day after day the ruler came to visit the man.

Eventually the Shah revealed his true identity, and he expected the man to ask for him for money or a gift. Instead he looked long into his leader's face and with love and wonder in his voice said, "You left your palace and your glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat my coarse food, and to care about what happens to me. On others you bestow riches and gifts, but to me you have given yourself."

This version quoted from www.itsaboy.org.uk website

The Christmas Ten Commandments

The following item appeared in a church newsletter and contains some good advice that will help us keep selfishness in check this Christmas:

I. Thou shalt not leave "Christ" out of Christmas, making it "Xmas." To some, "X" is unknown. II. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten. III. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality. IV. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman, and the merchant with complaints and demands. V. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever. VI. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold. VII. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou are generous. VIII. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season. IX. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou has become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. X. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list.

Long Walk Included

One of my favorite stories is about a missionary teaching in Africa. Before Christmas, he had been telling his native students how Christians, as an expression of their joy, gave each other presents on Christ's birthday.

On Christmas morning, one of the natives brought the missionary a seashell of lustrous beauty. When asked where he had discovered such an extraordinary shell, the native said he had walked many miles to a certain bay, the only spot where such shells could be found.

“I think it was wonderful of you to travel so far to get this lovely gift for me,” the teacher exclaimed.

His eyes brightening, the native replied, “Long walk, part of gift.”

—Gerald H. Bath

Carols Changed Christmas

Before the advent of the Christmas carol, celebrations of Christmas had become so depraved and rowdy that the observance of the joyous season was once forbidden by the English Parliament. The meaning of Christmas had become lost in a maelstrom of reveling, drunkenness, rioting, and depravity. Decent people found it necessary to stay indoors for safety. The situation became so shameful that in 1644 Parliament passed strict laws making it illegal to commemorate the season in any way whatsoever! How empty and devoid of meaning is a Christless Christmas! KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.

Meaning of Christmas, Materialism

A television interviewer was walking streets of Tokyo at Christmas time. Much as in America, Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan. The interviewer stopped one young woman on the sidewalk, and asked, "What is the meaning of Christmas?"

Laughing, she responded, "I don't know. Is that the day that Jesus died?"

There was some truth in her answer.

Donald Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations, San Jose: Resource, 1992, p. 16

Christmas Headlines

Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.

For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England's finest statesman. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby's name? Abraham Lincoln.

If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I'm certain these words would have been heard: "The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today." But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news--when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior.

Adapted from Charles Swindoll.

Home for Christmas

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown!

Daily Bread, December 23, 1991.

Sad Christmas

Christmas is a bitter day
For mothers who are poor,
The wistful eyes of children
Are daggers to endure.

Though shops are crammed with playthings
Enough for everyone.
If a mother’s purse is empty
There might as well be none.

My purse is full of money
But I cannot buy a toy;
Only a wreath of holly
For the grave of my little boy.

—Earl C. Willer

The Geese

There was once a man who didn't believe in the incarnation or the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout be

One snowy Christmas eve she was taking the kids to the Christmas eve service at church. She plea ded with him to come, but he firmly refused. He ridiculed the idea of the incarnation of Christ and After they left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As he looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening.

He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, "The barn would be a great place for them to stay! It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them, run after them, and chase them toward the barn. They only got scared and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. Not

Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why don't they follow me! Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm! How can I possibly get them into the one place to save.

He stood silently for a moment as the words that he just said reverberated back to himself in his mind: "If only I could become like one of them -- then I could save them." He thought about his As the winds and blinding snow abated, his heart became quiet and pondered this thought. He understood what Christmas was all about. He knew why Christ had come.

- Unknown

Letters to Santa Claus

I came across a collection of letters that children wrote to Santa Claus. Some of them were pretty good. One said, "Dear Santa, you did not bring me anything good last year. You did not bring me anything good the year before that. This is your last chance. Signed, Alfred."

My favorite went like this: "Dear Santa, there are three little boys who live at our house. There is Jeffrey; he is 2. There is David; he is 4. And there is Norman; he is 7. Jeffrey is good some of the time. David is good some of the time. But Norman is good all of the time. I am Norman." But we aren't Normans. We're shepherds.

Bruce Thielemann, "Glory to God in the Lowest," Preaching Today, Tape No. 75

Microwave Oven for Christmas

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here's how he recalls the experience:

"They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, the microwave transformed two smiles into frowns! Even after reading the directions, they couldn't make it work. Two days later, my mother was playing bridge with a friend and confessed her inability to get that microwave oven even to boil water. 'To get this darn thing to work,' she exclaimed, 'I really don't need better directions; I just needed my son to come along with the gift!' "

Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4

The Birth

Whether he was born in 4 B.C. or A.D. 6, in Bethlehem or Nazareth, whether there were multitudes of the heavenly host to hymn the glory of it or just Mary and her husband--when the child was born, the whole course of human history was changed. That is a truth as unassailable as any truth. Art, music, literature, Western culture itself with all its institutions and Western man's whole understanding of himself and his world--it is impossible to conceive how differently things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it did. And there is a truth beyond that: for millions of people who have believed since, the birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it

Frederick Buechner in Listening to Your Life. Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 15

Where's The Baby?

Evangelist Luis Palau tells of a wealthy European family that decided to have their newborn baby baptized in their enormous mansion. Dozens of guests were invited to the elaborate affair, and they all arrived dressed to the nines. After depositing their elegant wraps on a bed in an upstairs room, the guests were entertained royally.

Soon the time came for the main purpose of their gathering: the infant's baptismal ceremony. But where was the baby? No one seemed to know. The child's governess ran upstairs and returned with a desperate look on her face. Everyone searched frantically for the baby. Then someone recalled having seen him asleep on one of the beds. The baby was on a bed all right—buried beneath a pile of coats, jackets, and furs. The object of that day's celebration had been forgotten, neglected, and nearly smothered.

The baby whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas is easily hidden beneath the piles of traditions and cultural observances of the season. We need to enter every Advent season asking, "Where's the baby?"

Jesus is too young!

We had attended a nativity program with our friends and their two sons, ages 4 and 6, and were impressed with the boys' fascination at seeing the baby Jesus in a manger. The play was, indeed, realistic and convincing.

Later at their home the boys started arguing, and after ignoring repeated warnings to stop, their mother sent them to their rooms to ask forgiveness from Jesus for their disobedience. When the older boy rejoined us, his mother asked him if he had asked Jesus to forgive him. "No," he replied, "I asked God because Jesus is too young to understand."

Beth Gearhart, Billings, MT. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."

Apollo 8

On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein's name. They did not even go to the poets, the lyricists, or the dramatists. Only one thing could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation. Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: "In the beginning God"--the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. "In the beginning God created"--the invasive, the inescapable sense of the infinite and the eternal.

Ravi Zacharias, "If the Foundations Be Destroyed," Preaching Today, Tape No. 142.

The humility of the Incarnation

In his best-selling book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey contrasts the humility that characterized Jesus’ royal visit to planet earth with the prestigious image associated with world rulers today:

In London, looking toward the auditorium’s royal box where the queen and her family sat, I caught glimpses of the…way rulers stride through the world: with bodyguards, and a trumpet fanfare and a flourish of bright clothes and flashing jewelry.

Queen Elizabeth II had recently visited the United States, and reporters delighted in spelling out the logistics involved: her four thousand pounds of luggage included two outfits for every occasion, a mourning outfit in case someone died, forty pints of plasma, and white kid-leather toilet seat covers. She brought along her own hairdresser, two valets, and a host of other attendants. A brief visit of royalty to a foreign country can easily cost twenty million dollars.

In meek contrast, God’s visit to earth took place in an animal shelter with no attendants present and nowhere to lay the newborn king but a feed trough. Indeed, the event that divided history, and even our calendars, into two parts may have had more animal than human witnesses. A mule could have stepped on him.

Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Zondervan, 1995)

The stairs of heaven

Christmas is when God came down the stairs of heaven with a baby in His arms.

R. Eugene Sterner in Vital Christianity (Dec 14, 1975). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 18.

He Became

He became what we are that he might make us what he is.

Saint Athanasius

Christmas Party

The legend is told of the time Satan and his demons were having a Christmas party. As the demonic guests were preparing to depart, one grinned and said, "Merry Christmas, your majesty!" At that, Satan replied with a growl, "Keep it merry my friend. If they ever get serious about it, we'll all be in trouble."

Bethlehem of Judea

A little child,
A shining star.
A stable rude,
The door ajar.

Yet in that place,
So crude, folorn,
The Hope of all
The world was born.

--Author Unknown

Christmas Love

Each December I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations: extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.

Yet I still found myself exhausted, unable to fully appreciate the precious family moments, and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant. I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher who assured me there would be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early and found a seat in the cafeteria. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas" I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment: songs about reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes, and good cheer. So when my son's class rose to sing "Christmas Love" I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, who were adorned in fuzzy mittens and red sweaters, with bright stocking caps on their heads.

Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas" a child would hold up the letter "C." Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly we noticed her: a small, quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down. She was unaware that reversed, her letter "M" appeared as a "W."

The audience of first- through sixth-graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, and she stood tall, proudly holding her "W."

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience, and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities.

When the last letter was held high, the message read clear: "CHRIST WAS LOVE."

Candy Chand

The Parable Of The Birds

Once upon a time there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a Scrooge or anything like that. In fact, he was kind of a decent person. But he did not believe all that stuff about Incarnation and he was too honest to pretend that he did. He simply could not understand the claim that God had become man. It didn't make any sense to him how that could possibly have been.

One Christmas Eve, this man's wife and children went off to church for the midnight service and he stayed home, as usual. It began to snow soon after his family had departed, and so he sat down by the lighted fire and made himself comfortable, settling in for the evening with the afternoon newspaper. A few minutes passes, and then he heard a thudding sound -- and then a few more moments, and a second thudding sound. And quickly a third such sound followed. After the third thud, he realized that some birds, caught in the snowstorm, and in a desperate attempt to search for shelter, had tried to fly through his living room window. Now, as he could see, they lay huddled together quite miserably in the snow.

He thought to himself, "I can't let those birds out there freeze, but how can I possibly help them?" Then he thought of the barn. It was a warm shelter -- just the thing. So he put on his coat and his boots and he tramped out through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the barn doors wide and turned on the light -- but the birds would not come in. Food will bring them in, he then thought, so he sprinkled a trail of bread crumbs from the birds to the barn door. But to his dismay the birds ignored the crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. Then he tried shooing the birds into the barn, but they simply flopped around in every direction but towards the barn door! "They simply find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself. "I have got to think of a way I can let them know they can trust me. The answer would be if I could only become a bird myself. Then they would trust me to lead them to safely, to life out of the cold." At that moment, the bells of the church began to ring in Christmas Day -- and as they did, something strange happened. The man stood silently for a while looking at the birds, then he looked for a time at the barn door. Then, oddly, he knelt for a time in the cold and wet snow. He had come with some suddenness to realize something for the first time in his life, and it would not let him go. "If only I could become a bird myselfŠ then they might trust me to lead them to safely, to life out of the cold."

By Louis Cassels

Hinge of History

The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
—Ralph W. Sockman

Xmas and Christmas A Lost Chapter from Herodotus

And beyond this there lies in the ocean, turned towards the west and north, the island of Niatirb which Hecataeus indeed declares to he the same size and shape as Sicily, but it is larger, though in calling it triangular a man would not miss the mark. It is densely inhabited by men who wear clothes not very different from the other barbarians who occupy the north-western parts of Europe though they do not agree with them in language. These islanders. surpassing all the men of whom we know in patience and endurance, use the following customs.

In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card. But the pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs. And the Niatirbians are unwilling to say what these pictures have to do with the festival, guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery. And because all men must send these cards the marketplace is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.

But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the like cards which others have sent to them. And when they find cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour at least is over for another year. But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.

They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.

But during these fifty days the oldest, poorest and most miserable of the citizens put on false beards and red robes and walk about the market-place; being disguised (in my opinion) as Cronos. And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchasers become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush.

But when the day of the festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine. For wine is so dear among the Niatirbians that a man must swallow the worth of a talent before he is well intoxicated.

Such, then, are their customs about the Exmas. But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of the Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the Child. (The reason of these images is given in a certain sacred story which 1 know but do not repeat.)

But I myself conversed with a priest in one of these temples and asked him why they kept Crissmas on the same day as Exmas; for it appeared to me inconvenient. But the priest replied, It is not lawful, 0 Stranger, for us to change the date of Crissmas, but would that Zeus would put it into the minds of the Niatirbians to keep Exmas at some other time or not to keep it at all. For Exmas and the Rush distract the minds even of the few from sacred things. And we indeed are glad that men should make merry at Crissmas; but in Exmas there is no merriment left. And when I asked him why they endured the Rush, he replied, It is, 0 Stranger, a racket; using (as I suppose) the words of some oracle and speaking unintelligibly to me (for a racket is an instrument which the barbarians use in a game called tennis).

But what Hecataeus says, that Exmas and Crissmas are the same, is not credible. For first, the pictures which are stamped on the Exmas-cards have nothing to do with the sacred story which the priests tell about Crissmas. And secondly, the most part of the Niatirbians, not believing the religion of the few, nevertheless send the gifts and cards and - participate in the Rush and drink, wearing paper caps. But it is not likely that men, even being barbarians, should suffer so many and great things in honour of a god they do not believe in. And now, enough about Niatirb.

By CS Lewis From Compelling Reaon p162

In the Secret Service

A friend of mine was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.

He said, 'You need to join the Army of the Lord!'

My friend said, 'I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.'

The pastor said, 'How come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?'

He whispered back, 'I'm in the secret service.'

Loyal Jones and Billy Edd Wheeler, ea., Hometown Humor, USA (Little Rock, Ark.: August House, 1991), 101.

Miracle Baby

In 1947, Eleanor Munro contracted tuberculosis. It came on so fast and lodged in such a difficult place - the lower lobe of her lung - that it stymied every doctor who tried to help her.

To have a tubercular cavity in the lower lobe of the lung is rare. Conventional treatments, and you have to remember that this was in the days before antibiotics were developed to treat TB, all failed. Finally, Eleanor was listed as a hopeless case and sent to die at the TB annex of St. Martha's Hospital in Antigonish, Montreal. It was December 1947.

When Eleanor arrived at St. Martha's, She was 23, the mother of a year-old child. She had weighed 125 pounds when she was first diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was down to 87 pounds when she arrived at St. Martha's. There was no beauty left in her, but even at that last stage of her fight with TB, she had not lost her smile. And it was that smile, and her quiet acceptance of her fate, that caused Dr. Joseph McDougall, head of the annex, to make one more attempt to save her life. He phoned a doctor in New York who was experimenting with a new procedure in which air was forced into the cavity below the lungs, pushing the diaphragm up against
the lung. This pressure, it was hoped, would force the TB cavity to shut, allowing it to grow back together.

The next day, they tried the procedure, but it nearly killed Eleanor. She simply could not tolerate the amount of pressure required to give the lungs a chance to heal. After the procedure, Dr. McDougall told her that medically, they were whipped. If anything was to be done to save her, it must come from God.

Eleanor took it quietly. Then she made a request of the Doctor. "If I'm still alive on Christmas Eve, I would like your promise that I can go home for Christmas."

McDougall knew she shouldn't. She was highly contagious. However, not believing she could survive so long, he gave her his promise. And against all odds, she still clung to life on Christmas Eve. And although her condition was worsening, she held the doctor to his promise. So, warned against contact with her child and instructed to wear a surgical mask when talking to others, an ambulance took her home.

She was returned to St. Martha's the next day, Christmas Day. Daily, her condition worsened. Yet, Eleanor clung to life. At the end of February, she weighed less than 80 pounds. Then, a new "complication" set in. She became nauseous, even when there was no food in her stomach. Unable to explain this new development, McDougall called in a senior doctor. Also unable to find anything wrong, he jokingly asked McDougall if he thought Eleanor could be pregnant.

The idea was ridiculous. There was no way a woman in her condition could conceive. Nevertheless, a pregnancy test was done. It was positive. When told of the results, Eleanor simply smiled, and blushed.

Eleanor and her husband rejected the idea of an abortion when it was offered, so Eleanor was fed intravenously. Every day, the staff at St. Martha's expected her to die. Then, an amazing thing began to happen. By the end of March 1948, Eleanor's condition began to improve. Her fever went down. She regained an appetite and began to put on weight. A chest x-ray showed that the TB cavity had begun to heal. It also revealed the reason: the child growing in her womb was pushing her diaphragm up against the lower lobe of her lung. The baby was doing what medicine had failed to do: pressing the sides of the deadly hole in her lungs together so that it could heal.

Eleanor recovered because on Christmas Eve, 1947, as she and her husband shared what they must have believed was their last night of intimacy together, God gave her a baby to save her life. A miracle, in miniature, of what God did 1950 Christmases earlier, when as a little baby, He partook of our flesh and our blood to save the world.

Source: Focus on the Family newsletter, December 2000

Be Still

Here are three very similar videos from Youtube encouraging people to slow down and stop and consider the true meanign of Christmas. We used one of them prior to our Carol Service. You will find higher quality copies of these on some of the video sites like SermonSpeice and Worship House Media.

Christmas Navivity Morph Video

I found this amazing video on Youtube last year and used it before our Christmas Eve childrens service.

Morph: |môrf| to transform or cause to change smoothly, which accurately describes Christmas, the nativity story, the purpose of Christ's life and Luke 2:4-14... it also accurately describes this video that morphs from one painting of the nativity to the next. Powerful. Beautiful. Inspiring.

Produced by Beamer Films and available for download at FaithVisuals.com: www.faithvisuals.com

Greatest Time of Year

A YouTube video with Mickey Mouse and Friends Celebrating Christmas

It's About The Cross

This is a video from YouTube. The song is by a group called Go Fish and is brilliant - I used this during may sermon at our Midnight Communion Service on Christmas Eve. There are other alternatives to this on YouTube, just search for "It's About the Cross"

Love came down at Christmas

A Christmas video on YouTube

Christmas Prophecies Video

A video with prophecies about the birth of Jesus

Rediscover The Nativity Story

This is a set of Videos that I used at Christmas before and during our services. The video is great and the countdown worked well before a service.

What is Christmas About? - Charlie Brown

Linus explains to Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about. From YouTube.