A WIDER VIEW

New Year Prayer

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offense
And finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad

Are asking today; Is life worth living?
The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can start this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.
Helen Steiner Rice

GOD'S BLESSINGS IN THE COMING
KIM

LETS START NEW AND GET CONNECTED

Scripture:

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

Matthew 18:20 (New International Version)
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."


And while I stood there
I saw more than I can tell,
and I understood more than I saw;
for I was seeing in a sacred manner
the shapes of things in the spirit,
and the shape of all shapes as they must
live together like one being.
(Black Elk)

"May hope unite us, love connect us,
and peace dwell among us"

Have a Christ filled and Blessed New Year

Kim

THE ROCK

Scripture:

4and drank the same spiritual drink;
for they drank from the spiritual rock
that accompanied them, and that
rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from guilt and power.
(Augustus Toplady)

Reflection:

I have some very close friends who
disagree with me. Some disagree
with my theology, some with my
philosophy and moral standards.
I have learned over the years to
listen to them. I take their advice
to my heart and mind, and then, do
you know what I do? I go to the
Holy Scriptures to be led by God.
I read of the life and teachings of
my Rock, our Savior Jesus Christ.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU
WENT TO YOUR ROCK?

Prayer:

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
AMEN

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS!

(This was sent to me by my buddy
Bob. It says a lot about our current
Educational System)


What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...
Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents
stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well,
check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade
in 1895?
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina ,
Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document
on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society

and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.


8th Grade Final Exam: Salina , KS - 1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters
2. Name the parts of speech and define those
that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give
principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal
marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words
and show therein that you understand the practical
use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental
Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long,
and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is
it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is
the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months
at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and
18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide
and 16 ft.. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace)
at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre,
the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a
Receipt

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1 Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America
by Columbus
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the
Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell ,
Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607,
1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic,
orthography, etymology, syllabication
2.. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each:
trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name
two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate
each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection
with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono,
sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the
following, and name the sign that indicates the sound:
card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site,
sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate
pronunciation by use of diacritical marks
and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa ,
Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez,
Aspinwall and Orinoco
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the
same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean
returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination
of the earth.
Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.
Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole
new meaning, doesn't it?!

Also shows you how poor our education system has become
and,

NO, I don't have the answers!

JUST ONE GIFT

Scripture:

Luke 2

1And it came to pass in those days,
that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed
.
2(And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one
into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the
house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused
wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that
she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them
in the inn.

8And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came
upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels
were gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let
us now go even unto Bethlehem, and
see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto
us.

16And they came with haste, and found
Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in
a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made
known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at
those things which were told them by the
shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things that
they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.

Reflection:

That's what it's all about! Amid all the
gifts, the wrapping paper, the boxes.
Amid all the pain that so many are
suffering with. Amid death, destruction,
genocide, drug addiction, physical
abuse, sexual abuse. Amid the
beauty of creation, amid the love
and compassion we share with
each other. Amid All of this, THERE
IS ONE GIFT, a gift that will last
forever. There is no refund and no
return. This gift will be with you the
rest of your life, as matter of fact,
this gift will extend your life for an
eternity.
THAT'S RIGHT THIS GIFT IS A
BABY!! THE SAVIOR WHICH IS
CHRIST THE LORD.
TAKE THIS GIFT OR LEAVE THIS
GIFT IT IS UP TO YOU!!!!

Prayer:

Thank you God that You so loved
the world, that You gave Your only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.

Thank you God that You sent not Your
Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
GOD HAS BLESSED US ONE AND ALL.

THE STORY THAT NEVER GROWS OLD

by
Ron Walters

"I love to tell the story. For those
who know it best seem hungering
and thirsting to hear it like the rest."

It was little ol' Bethlehem, but it was
big enough. The omnipresent God
had no problems fitting in. It was
quite a contrast trading the throne
room of heaven for a stable, angels
for cattle, hallelujahs for a lullaby.
Bethlehem had its share of visitors,
but never one like this. The prophets
had given the pieces of the puzzle,
but at first glance they didn't seem
to fit. The Alpha and Omega was
born. The Ancient of Days had the
skin of a newborn. The same voice
which spoke the creation into being
had the familiar ring of baby-talk.
A child was born of a virgin.

It was a typical Bethlehem night,
dinner was a memory, chores were
all done, parents were tucking in
their sleepy kids. The stars were out,
but nothing else. The weary town
had said "Good Night". It was a
night like any other, yet it was a
night the world will never forget.

It was a first. Never before had
The Eternal become so tiny, the
Almighty become so helpless.
He had out-muscled Pharaoh's
army, now he was held in Mary's
arms. The eyes that see the
beginning to the end, could hardly
open. The God who never slumbers
was now fast asleep. Everything was
perfect.

Angels were dispatched to spread
the word. First stop--a group of
shepherds. It was Good News! It
was Great Joy! It was just one
sentence, only one verse, 19 small
words, "For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord." The
announcement needed no
explanation, only directions.
"You'll find the babe lying in
a manger." Finally the wait was
over. The Messiah had come.
Nothing else mattered, not the
late hour, not the restless sheep--
nothing. This was a birthday party
they couldn't miss. The announcement
became an invitation. This God-child
was accessible to lowly shepherds.
Fear was replaced by excitement,
doubts with hope.

One can only imagine the thoughts
of those shepherds as they found the
baby-king. There was no entourage,
no royal ceremony, no lights, music,
feasting. There was no need for those
things. They would have been out of
place. Nothing added could have
enhanced the wonder of God becoming
flesh. Some appearances don't need an
opening act.

There they were. Quiet, perhaps.
Motionless, no doubt. Wondering
"What now?" They must have thought
about Israel's future, or even the dreaded
Romans. Someone probably asked to
hold the baby. One confused shepherd
probably wished he had paid attention
in Sabbath School. Another may have
remembered the prophets words "For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son i
s given; and the government will be upon
His shoulders; and His name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty
God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace".

Did they see the irony? They had been
watching Bethlehem's sheep, yet now
they were beholding the Lamb of God.
For years they had supplied animals for
the annual sacrifice. But at this moment
God had supplied the eternal sacrifice for
the sins of the world. Their business was
in jeopardy but their salvation was secure.

They were all eye-witnesses. Every detail
was studied. Every word was memorized.
For years they must have told and retold
the accounts. Consequently the story has
been told to every generation.

Now it's our turn to tell and retell the story.
The story that never grows old.

"And when in scenes of glory I sing the new,
new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I
have loved so long".


Blessings,

TELLING THE CHRISTMAS STORY

by
Ron Walters

The incarnation; it defies description.
The eternal God became mortal man.
The potter became clay. The Maker
of all took residence in a manger of
hay. Nothing could be more diametrically
diverse. No wonder the angels long
to look into the situation.

To those of us who've heard the
story all our lives, it seems so normal.
But, to those who've never heard, it
must sound absurd. Such was the
world Jesus was born into. They had
never read the Christmas story, or seen
it portrayed by children each year in church.
To them, it was the simple reality that
this child was different. His birth, His
development, His mission were all very
strange.

Everyone knows where children come
from. But, on very rare occasions God
has chosen to mix things up. Adam, for
example, came into being without a man
or a woman. Eve, on the other hand, came
from man and no woman. On one occasion,
God chose a couple too old to have kids
to bring young Isaac into the world. But,
never had a woman given birth without the
aid of a man. God had saved the best for last.
"A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son,
and she will call His name Immanuel."

Of all people, you and I are most fortunate.
We've been given the privilege to tell this
Christmas story again this year. I hope
you're as excited as I am!


Blessings,

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING !

Let the Child and Joseph and Mary teach
us the dignity and importance of children
and families in a society so neglectful of them.

Scripture:

Micah 5:2-5a

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-55

Prayer:

Adult:
O Jesus Christ, Holy Wisdom,
come and teach us your way;
Word of life, Word made flesh,
come, speak your truth.

Child:
Jesus, come and teach me,
how to sing and play,
how to learn new words;
tell me what to say.
Teach me how to be a child,
for you know the way.

WHERE IS JESUS AT CHRISTMAS?

WHAT A GIFT?

Scripture:

"He Who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things". (Romans 8:32)

Reflection:

There is a beautiful story that took
place in a small town in Mexico.
It was Christmas time and time to
place the nativity scene in front of
the church. Within the manger was
a very valuable, old, statue of the
baby Jesus. This was a poor
congregation and they took pride
in this baby Jesus statue. The
Priest was concerned that some-
one may steal the baby Jesus and
preached several sermons of his
concern of a possible theft. He
pointed out the penality for the
sin of theft.
Sure enough, the Sunday before
Christmas, the statue of the baby
Jesus turned up missing.
The local police were immediately
called, and a extensive search was
begun. The statue and the thief were
not found. On Christmas
day the congregation gathered, deeply
saddened. As the Priest approached
the pulpit to speak, a little boy with
a beaten up red wagon entered the
chuch. Within the wagon was the
statue of the baby Jesus. The little
boy nervously walked down the middle
isle, with the wagon and placed the
baby back in the manger. The Priest
asked the little boy why he took the
statue? The little boy replied, "As
God the Father delivered the baby
Jesus to protect us, He (the little boy),
took Jesus to protect Jesus and
delivered Him back so He can protect
us.
Just like this little boy, at Christmas
God delivered Jesus to protect us.

There are times when difficult
circumstances can cause us to feel
that Christ has been stolen from our
Christmas. HE HAS NOT !
We know that God is for us, and we
have this wonderful assurance: "He
Who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things".
Remember nothing, absolutely nothing,
can separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus.
Look for Jesus in the manger, on the
cross, risen from the dead, and in our
hearts and our very soul.
THATS WHERE WE FIND JESUS AT
CHRISTMAS !

THE "O" ANTIPHONS

The "O" Antiphons. Since
the seventh century, this
set of seven prayer texts
has been sung or recited
over the final days of Advent
during the daily service of
vespers, or evening prayer.
They are voiced in response
to the Magnificat (Lk 1: 46 - 55).
Each antiphonal prayer addresses
God with "O" and a biblical name
and concludes with a call for him
to come. The phrases of the prayers
derive from Scripture. You may be
familiar with them from the verses
of the well-known Advent hymn,
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
They may be used devotionally,
one a day, from December 17 to 23.
Here are the traditional texts of the
"Great O's."

O Wisdom, O holy word of God,
you govern all creation with your
strong yet tender care: Come and
show your people the way to salvation.

O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the
burning bush, who gave him the holy
law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch
out your mighty hand to set us free.

O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have
been raised up as a sign for all peoples;
rulers stand silent in your presence; the
nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming
to our aid.

O Key of David, O royal power of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
Come, break down the prison walls of
death for those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death, and lead your captive
people into freedom.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light,
sun of justice: Come, shine on those who
dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Ruler of all the nations, the only joy of
every human heart, O keystone of the
mighty arch of humankind: Come and save
the creature you fashioned from the dust.

O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire
of the nations, savior of all people: Come
and set us free, Lord our God.

On December 21, the church remembers
St. Thomas, the apostle famously known
as Doubting Thomas for his refusal to
believe in Jesus' resurrection until he had
fingered the nail marks and felt the spear
wound. After Jesus graciously
accommodated his doubt, Thomas
declared, "My Lord and my God!"(Jn 20:28).
According to tradition, he is credited with
taking the light of the gospel to India. As
his feast day falls in the week of the "O"
Antiphons, these meditative prayers can
be for us affirmations of faith and longing
in the face of doubts that we, like Thomas,
may experience.

Taken from Living the Christian Year:
Time to Inhabit the Story of God by
Bobby Gross. Copyright(c) 2009 by
Bobby Gross.
Bobby Gross is director of graduate
and faculty ministries for InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship. Bobby also
serves on the national board of
Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
and lives in Atlanta, GA.

THE ADVENT WREATH

The Advent wreath. This simple
arrangement consists of four
candles set equidistant in a circle
of evergreens, with a larger fifth
candle placed in the middle. On
the first Sunday of Advent, one
candle is lit, on the second Sunday,
two candles, and so on. Finally,
on Christmas Eve, we light the
Christ candle in the middle.
Usually, three of the outer candles
are purple, the liturgical color of
Advent that signifies both penitence
and royalty, but the candle for the
third Sunday is rose-colored, denoting
the theme of joy. The Christ candle is
white. The circle suggests eternity, the
greens symbolize life, and the cross
of lighted candles points to Christ.

In ancient northern cultures, the
lighting of bonfires and yule logs
was meant to ward off the midwinter
darkness and its sinister denizens.
So it is easy to see how Christians
combined the greenery of life and
the candles of light into the Advent
wreath. By lighting a new candle
each week, by accumulating the
brightness, we signify our hope in
the coming light of Christ, even as
daylight diminishes and darkness
rises with the approach of winter
solstice. Lighting the Advent wreath
in our homes and churches enacts
our faith in John's testimony: "The
light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not overcome it"
(Jn 1:5).

The minor feast day of St. Lucy, or
Lucia, on December 13 provides
another opportunity to celebrate the
coming light of Christ during Advent.
Lucia, whose name derives from lux
(Latin for "light"), was martyred in
Italy in 304. Devoted to Christ, she
gave all of her dowry to the poor,
infuriating the man she was to marry
by arrangement. He denounced her
to the governor, who had her killed
by the sword after attempts to burn
her failed. Lucy is especially honored
in Scandinavia as the Queen of Light.
The custom is for a daughter in the
home to wear a crown of candles
and go from room to room awakening
the family from their deep midwinter
sleep and bringing them Lucia buns
baked with saffron.

Bobby Gross is director of graduate and
faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship. Bobby also serves on the national
board of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
and lives in Atlanta, GA.

ADVENT IN CHURCH

by Bobby Gross

In the early centuries, the
churches in the East celebrated
both the birth and the baptism
of Jesus on January 6. Not surprisingly,
the day became a major occasion
for performing baptisms, which led
to a preparatory period of fasting
and catechesis (instruction). During
the fourth century, the Eastern churches
followed the West's lead and adopted
December 25 for the Feast of the Nativity.
Even though this was no longer a day
for baptisms, Eastern churches retained
their tradition of penitential preparation.
This practice spread to the northern and
western regions of the church where
it fit well with the greater emphasis
there on the final coming and judgment
of Christ, which called for self-examination
and spiritual readiness. Today, Orthodox
Christians still observe a nativity fast
from meat November 15 through
December 24.

In the church centered in Rome, it
was a different story. There, Advent
entailed a festive preparation for the
birth of Christ from the start. In the
sixth century Pope Gregory the Great
established the forerunner of our
Advent by creating special masses for the
four Sundays preceding Christmas Day.
After seesawing over the ensuing centuries,
these two traditions, the "warm Latin joy"
and the "ascetic northern preparation"
eventually merged into the synthesis that
characterizes Advent today. While fasting
has largely fallen away in the West, we
still feel a subtle and fruitful tension. As
Christopher Hill puts it, "The pull between
the affectionate backward look and the
anxious forward look - both situated in the
world of human time" opens up the present
moment for Christ to come in our hearts.



Obviously, Advent and Christmas are closely
linked, and many cultural customs apply to
both seasons. For example, the Feast of St.
Nicholas, from which we get our idea of
Santa Claus, falls on December 6 in Advent.
Three Advent traditions - the Christmas tree,
the Advent wreath and the "O" Antiphons -
open for us respectively the themes of death
and life, darkness and light, doubt and longing.

Bobby Gross is director of graduate and
faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship. Bobby also serves on the national
board of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
and lives in Atlanta, GA.

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING !

In a world where nature and our environment
are threatened, let us make our Christmas
tree and manger scene reminders of the
beauty and sacredness of nature. How
closely at his coming did Jesus bind himself
to the animals of the field, as well as to the
earth and the open sky!

Scripture:

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

Prayer:

Adult:
O Jesus Christ,
Key of David,
come and set your people free.
Open the gates of heaven for us;
come, deliver us from evil.

Child:
King David was a mighty king
who built a city long ago.
He left a key
that Jesus found in the manger hay.
Key of David, Jesus Christ,
open heaven's gates for us.

THE FIRST NOEL

The first noel the angel did say was to certain
poor shepherds in fields as they lay-in fields
where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold
winter's night that was so deep.

They looked up and saw a star shining in
the east, beyond them far; and to the earth
it gave great light, and so it continued both
day and night.

And by the light of that same star, three wise
men came from country far; to seek for a king
was their intent, and to follow the star wherever
it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er
Bethlehem it took its rest; and there it did both
stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three, full rev'rently
upon their knee, and offered there, in His presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our
heav'nly Lord, that hath made heav'n and earth of
naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.

Chorus: Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the
King of Israel!

The Story of "The First Noel"


Although no Christmas season would be
complete without the melodious singing of this
tuneful carol, very little is known about its origin.
It is believed to have had its rise in France during
the fifteenth century. Noel is a French word
originating from Latin meaning "birthday." The song
is thought to have been brought across the channel
to England before 1823 by the wandering troubadours.
The carol under the English form, "Nowell," became
a great favorite for Christmas Eve, especially in the
west of England. This was when the entire village
gathered for singing and celebrating the bringing in
of the Yule log. At this time carols were thought of
as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside
the church rather than within.

"The First Noel" portrays in vivid narrative style the
story of the birth of Christ. All six stanzas are
needed to complete the entire event when the hymn
is sung. The sixth stanza urges us to join together
to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation
and for the salvation provided through Christ's shed
blood. The repetition of the joyous "noel" in the refrain
is equivalent to our singing out "happy birthday" to someone.

It is interesting to observe that the "King of Israel" was
first announced to "certain poor shepherds" only, but in
the final stanza the phrases "let us all" and "mankind
hath brought" remind us that Christ came to redeem
the whole world.

AWAY IN A MANGER

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus,
I ask thee to stay.
Close by me forever,
And love my I pray.

Bless all the dear children,
In thy tender care.
And take them to heaven,
To be with thee there.



The Story of "Away in a Manger"

In 1224, St. Francis of Assisi
was dealing with a dilemma. The
message of Christ's birth had
become so intellectual that it was
aloof and dogmatic. "It must be
simplified so that it might appeal
to the heart of the common people,
" he decided. Then a he had an idea.
"Why not dramatize the Christmas
story? The common folk will then be
able to better understand the meaning
of Christmas."

So he had a nativity scene and all
the trappings of a stable placed in his
church. On Christmas Eve, the people
came to the church, and saw Joseph,
Mary, and the precious baby Jesus.
The people were so excited! Christmas
had never seemed so real to them.

Since that time, the manger has become
one of the main symbols of Christmas.
One of the best known songs concerning
it is "Away in a Manger." This song was
generally referred to as "Luther's Cradle
Hymn." In 1887, the song was printed in
North America, with the heading,
"Composed by Martin Luther for his
children, and still sung by German
mothers to their little ones." The author
of the lyrics has never been verified, and
the source of the tune is still unknown.
Some say it may have been written by a
member of a German Lutheran colony
from Pennsylvania.

EMBARRASSING GOD

Have You Embarrassed Your
Heavenly Father?

"Such people claim they know
God, but they deny him by the
way they live."
Titus 1:16 NLT

Embarrassing God

"Not so long ago I saw a man
shopping in a grocery store while
his young son ran up and down the
aisles. The boy was unleashed and
hyper, making a complete nuisance
of himself. The father kept calling his
son's name, but the boy only ran
faster—up one aisle and down the other.

Just as the father caught up with him,
the boy reached out and grabbed a
handful of candy bars. The father tried
to take them away, but the boy held
on tightly. Then he started to scream.
It was a high-pitched, piercing scream
that reverberated throughout the store.
Clerks and customers turned to look
from every direction as the frustrated
father tried his best to squelch his
son's cries. The boy only screamed
louder and started to kick. Finally the
father let him go, and once again he
ran down the aisle with all his might,
chocolate still clutched in his greedy
little grip.

I caught a glimpse of the father's face.
It was the look of complete and total
embarrassment. Although I'm sure he
loved his son dearly, at this moment
he was ashamed to be his father.

Do you think God ever feels that way
with his children? Imagine how he must
feel when we become so earthly minded
that we run through life, ignoring his
voice and oblivious to his warning,
grabbing things as we go and holding
them tightly.

Do you think God doesn't get embarrassed
by the way his children act? Our life is a
reflection of his authority. And when we
disobey, he is the One the world scoffs at.

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye,
Jerry B. Jenkins and Frank M. Martin (Tyndale) p 148

LIFE'S JOURNEY

Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with
the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and
well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out,
and loudly shouting, 'Wow! What a ride! Thank
You, Lord!'

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING !

Remembering the poor shepherds and the
circumstances of Christ's birth, so marked
by poverty, let us make them reminders of
the forgotten poor of our world.

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 1:68-79

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

Prayer:

Adult:
O Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace,
come and save your people.
Joy of every heart,
Strength of those who are poor,
come quickly to help us.

Child:
Prince of Peace,
teach the lion and the little lamb,
teach the cat and the mouse,
the the hawk and the tiny bird,
teach everyone who doesn't get along
to live in peace.

WHEN A GOOD CHURCH BEGINS TO FAIL

Scripture:

For the whole law can be summed up
in this one command: "Love your neighbor
as yourself." But if you are always biting
and devouring one another, watch out!
Beware of destroying one another.
Galatians 5:14-15.

Reflection:

Have you ever been a member of a church
that is failing? It is a terrible thing to
experience and I hope you never experience
this kind of failing.
I have seen and been involved with a failing
church. The pain involved was unbelievable.
In my observation, the failing began when
the members, no longer motivated by love,
became critical of others. They stopped
looking for good in others and could only
see their faults. Soon the unity of all the
believers was infected and broken. The
church failed.
I have some questions for you to ask of
yourself and ponder. Have you talked
behind someone's back? Have you focused
on others' shortcomings instead of their
strengths?
Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love
others as you love yourself. When you begin
to feel critical of someone, make a list of that
person's positive qualities. If there are problems
that need to be addressed, it is better to confront
in love than to gossip.

Prayer:

Oh mighty God give me the strength to keep my
tongue in check. Let patience, kindness, and love
rule my life and love be my guide in relationship
with my brothers and sisters. Let love be my
guide in my relationships to all people and Your
command to love one another be written in my
heart, mind, and my spirit. In Jesus Name
Amen.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR REWARDS ON EARTH?

Scripture:

"…we who are still alive and remain
on earth will be caught up in the clouds t
o meet the Lord in the air and remain
with him forever."
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

Awaiting our day

"The story is told of an old missionary
couple returning to the States after
many years of thankless service in Africa.
They happened to be on the same ship to
New York as President Theodore Roosevelt,
who was returning from a big game hunt in
Africa. As the ship pulled past the Statue of
Liberty and into the dock, huge crowds were
gathered to welcome him home. The press
was out in full force, and thousands of people
had come to get a glimpse of the president.

In the middle of the chaos, the aged
missionary couple fought their way through
the crowds with their large suitcases in tow.
Silently they hailed a cab and made their
way to a cheap hotel. The missionary sat
on the bed and said to his wife, "It just
doesn't seem right. We gave our lives to
Christ to win souls for the Kingdom in
Africa, and when we arrive home there
is no one here to meet us. The president
shoots a few animals and receives a royal
welcome."

His wife sat beside him on the bed and said
softly, "That's because we're not home yet, dear."

It may seem at times as if our work for Christ
is going unnoticed. Faith doesn't bring a lot
of praise on this earth. But that's only because
our trip is not yet over.

Our day will come, you can be sure. And when
it does, the ceremony will last for an eternity.

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye,
Jerry B. Jenkins and Frank M. Martin
(Tyndale) p 346