Which is to being the blog to a close.
I've been doing this for years. It's been enjoyable and have appreciated the feedback that I've gotten from you kind readers.
But I retired from parish ministry a couple of years ago and have been busy with other activities.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog.
Have a blessed new year!
Until then, you're invited to join us at Christ the Redeemer tomorrow for worship at 9 am for what we are calling the 4th Sunday in Advent. Then at 6 pm we will hold our Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 6 pm, There will be several Christmas videos, special music, a word from God's Word, communion and plenty of Christmas hymns and songs. If you haven't a place to celebrate the birth of the Christ child consider joining us tomorrow evening at 6 pm.
Also, I'm going to take a break from the blog for a week or so. I'll be back after the first of the year. I noticed recently that since I started this blog I've have over 250,000 people visit. That's amazing! So, thank for checking it out.
To you and yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The angel's message is simply what happened - a birth - and the identification of the one born - "a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Impossible? No, it has happened. God did not have to wait for clearance from us whether it is possible or not. It happened. A Savior born, Christ the Lord.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
I've posted the following before - it comes from the biography, "Here I Stand." (page 354)
Many in the congregation think to themselves, "I only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby! I would have washed His linen. How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!
Yes, you would! You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem. Childish and silly thoughts are these!
Why don't you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ Himself.
Martin Luther
Christianity, rightly understood, is utterly unlike religion that man invents. It is so completely contrary to the way man does things that it must have come from God. Take Christmas, for example; only God could have thought of that. When man invents a super being, he comes up with a Superman, or a Captain Marvel. God gives the world a baby.
Richard Halverson, quoted in "The Light Has Shined" devotional by Dr. Tim Smith
My wife and I took two of our grandkids the the Arizona Broadway Theatre last Saturday for their morning performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas. We learned that they had never watched the television classic so this seemed the perfect time to introduce the grandkids to Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the lovable cast of characters.
The climax of the program is when Linus recites the Christmas story from Luke, chapter two. And true to the original program, Linus once again took center stage.
The character began with verse eight: and they were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
But then, disappointment. Verse 10: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people. Then the speaker jumped to verse 13: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And so, what was left out? Only the most important part of the angel's announcement, verses 11 and 12:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
Was this another example of our "woke" society that that worships at the great gods of "Me, myself and I?" Were the producers afraid of offending someone who only sees Christmas as a time for gifts and parties and not for giving God thanks for the greatest gift of all?
Why are people so afraid of Jesus? He is the Savior that people need. He takes our sins and pays for them at the cross. He rescues us from death and gives eternal life. Only He can offer a lasting peace.
In the end this gave us a teaching moment for our grandkids. Their parents love and worship Jesus and the children are being raised to do the same. But the day was a bit of a disappointment for me. I wasn't expecting an Almost Charlie Brown Christmas.