Tag Christmas

The Legend of the Friendly Beasts

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

There’s an old Christmas legend about the animals who shared the stable with the Christ child. Each animal bestowed a gift on Him. The legend says the animals in the stable gained the power of speech for that night.

Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude;
And the friendly beasts around Him stood.
Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

"I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down; 
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town." 
"I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown.



"I," said the Cow, all white and red,
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"I," said the Cow, all white and red.



"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn.
"I," said the Dove, from the rafters high,
"I cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the Dove, from the rafters high.
Thus every beast by some glad spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.

Christmas List Suggestions

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

peace5c

Can you imagine a world where Oren’s gift suggestions are actually put into practice? Wouldn’t it be a much nicer world in which to raise your children? Wouldn’t it be nice to know that everyone was playing by the same rules? Alas this is far from reality, the world has long ago forsaken the ways designed for civilized living. Apart from a full-fledged revival of biblical proportions I fear that perhaps the good old days are just that. Yet I have hope that there remains those who desire to be a light in the darkness, to be an agent of change and a beacon of hope where there is only hopelessness. So as the world spins out of control I pray this Christmas season that once again God would send peace on Earth and goodwill to all men.

 

The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith and Politics in a Post-Religious Right America

The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America

George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century

Santa Faces New Challenges this year

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

You got to love this cartoon because it speaks volumes to what children learn from watching us adults each day. What are we teaching our children anyway?

It is no longer naughty or nice but who has the biggest sob story to tell to receive their Christmas gift. Corporate America has become like little children sitting on the knee of Congress giving Santa Barney their wish list.

I do not know about you but many things I asked Santa for in my young life I never received. Perhaps Santa Barney could learn to say no?

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Modern Version

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

‘T’was the night before Christmas and all through the town

Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores

Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed”. holyfamily

Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap.

As hour upon hour the presents they’d wrap

When what from the TV did they suddenly hear?

But an ad which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash

Buying things on credit and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall

Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no, not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things

No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior they had no time to stop.

Because they needed more time to “Shop til they drop!”

On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney’s!

On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny’s.

From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall

They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter

As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder

He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.

Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus, Light of the World.

Christ’s eyes, how they twinkle! Christ’s Spirit, how merry!

Christ’s love, how enormous! All our burdens, He’ll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight

Let’s put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!

–Author Unknown