Merry Christmas!

I would like to say to all of my faithful readers a very Merry Christmas. I am very grateful to God and all of you for making this blog what it is. Unless anything major comes up, regular blogging will resume tomorrow. Your comments are appreciated and--as I usually say when asking for comments--keep it civil and clean. :)

The First Christmas

Christmas is not about a man in a big red suit. It is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. From Luke 2:1-20 (KJV):

1 And 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.)

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

4 And 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:)

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

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

7 And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

This Christmas, remember why Christ was born. Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. Neither the Jews nor the Romans killed Christ. It was our sins--the things that go against the will of God--that put Him on the Cross. He rose from the dead on the first Easter, ascended to Heaven forty days later and is coming soon. The best Christmas gift you can receive is the gift of eternal life. Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and repent of your sins and you will receive the gift of eternal life with Christ in Heaven.

If you want eternal life and a life free from the bondage of sin, pray this simple prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive me from my sins. I believe that you died for my sins. I want to turn away from my sin and ask you to come into my heart. I want to follow you, Jesus, as Savior and Lord. In your name, Lord Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.

Christmas Eve 1968: A Lesson For Our Time

Forty years ago today, Christmas Eve 1968, the crew of the Apollo 8 orbited the Moon. While orbiting, the astronauts read the first ten verses of Genesis 1 in the King James Version of the Bible. A huge television audience on Earth watched the stirring reading.

Here is the full text of the reading:

William Anders: "We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Jim Lovell: "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Frank Borman: "And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

Forty years later, while we bicker over whether or not climate change is natural or man-made and bicker over solutions, remember the One who created the heavens and the Earth. He is still in control over the universe and is on the throne today.

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