TRADITION

Our family's Christmas tradition is a funny picture-- Front row--Heather, Noah, Chris, Bobbi; Second row-- Samantha, Andrew, Jessie, Jessica, Jennifer; Back row--Natalie, Jes. Photo by Heather.

Family togetherness can be enhanced by Christmas traditions.  In my growing up years I enjoyed attending a candlelight Christmas Eve service with my family. In my mind we always sang "Joy to the World," as it was the only Christmas carol I knew the alto to. My relatives in San Diego have a "Christmas Adam" tradition.  It takes place on December 23 as Adam came before Eve. Cousin Becky explains it --

Thats the Jack Horner Pie. Something our family/ancestors first started doing when they were crossing the country on the Oregon trail. It started with a big milk pan and the family would each make small xmas gifts like corn husk dolls etc for each other. Then tie a string to it with the receivers name on a tag and put all the gifts in the pan with a pretend pie crust and black bird vent in the top. The family all takes their tags up and then recites the poem. "Little Jack Horner sat in a corner eating his Christmas Pie. He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum, and said what a good boy am I" And then everyone pulls out their gifts all at the same time. Just a special fun event everyone looks forward to each year.

Other countries have interesting activities for Christmas. In a Christmas Eve sermon Pastor Andy Lewis of Mitchell Road Presbyterian church in Greenville, SC told about some of the traditions around the world for Christmas.  If you would like to hear them click here to listen. 

Traditions can comfort us and cheer us; but the most important tradition in the world is remembering Jesus who being God came to earth,  was born a baby,  grew up to pay the price for our sins, and defeated death, so that we may live forever with God.  When we see Him we will be like Him as we will see Him as He is.  

II Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

Nostalgia for Christmas includes "White Christmas" and the beat of the Drifters from 1953.  Love this one.  Click on the You Tube to see and enjoy.  Merry Christmas!

HOSPODEE POMEELEEY

 

Groveton High School 1961 Symphonic Choir--First row left to right: Bev Barret, Rita Wyatt, Dawn Davis, Karen Vest.

Second Row: Carolyn Christmas, Sharon Johnson, Marion Carter, Marie Arnette.

Third row: Louisa Frank, Joni Heller, Shelly Ballard.

Forth Row: Louise McGee, Suzanne Morgan, Nancy Trenary, Mary Ann Beach.

Fifth row: Barry Morf, Kathy Fowler, Kathie Drake, Nancy Mangum

Sixth row: Lindsey Florence, Richard Babb, Sam Vaughn.

Seventh row: Bill Lyons, Jim Weedon, John Lafley, Jack Tidwell.

Eighth row: Jerry Bramley, Bart Frye, John Turner, Louis Boas

Last night we attended our granddaughter's last high school Christmas concert.  She is a senior this year and will graduate in June. We enjoyed it so much.  It brought back fond memories of my days at Groveton High school.

The Ridgeline High School choir sang a composition in Latin.  This brought to my memory the pieces Miss Holstein taught us which were sung in Latin back in 1961.  I loved singing in Latin--  I just couldn't actually translate the words. 

Last night the Ridgeline Band performed a Russian Christmas song. It brought to my mind the Russian work "Hospodee Pomeeley" or "Lord Have Mercy," which was performed by the Symphonic  Choir at the Groveton Easter concert in 1961.  

I began to think of this day and age with our celebration of Christmas coming up. Our poor old world needs the "Mercy of God."  Have you read Revelation 6 lately?  I think we are in a mini tribulation-- verses 1-2 talk about conquest (war?); verses 3-4 talk about people killing one another; verses 5-6 talk about inflation; 7-8 are about hunger; 9-11 the martyrs are asking "how long?"; The sixth seal or verses 12-17 haven't happened yet.  That is when God rolls up the sky. 

But there is hope-- We can enjoy the Charlie Brown Christmas story or other encouragements of the season.  World Podcast shared Christmas stories which are fun -- click here and here and here  to listen or read. 

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

BEAUTIFUL FIJIAN RUGBY SONG

 

In little known news I thought you would be interested in this "Breakpoint" podcast.  During last year's Olympics, the Fijian rugby team won the gold and captured hearts by unashamedly and passionately singing a stirring hymn of praise after their victory.  Click here to read or hear the podcast.  Above is the video of the team singing.

   Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

 2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

    and his courts with praise!

    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

 

5 For the Lord is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever,

    and his faithfulness to all generations.

I LIED

 

Library of Congress reading room

I could never run for office.  My past would catch up with me. OK, I confess;  I'm guilty of lying to the guard at the Library of Congress, and then, after I was married, to forging my husbands signature.

The story is this--   When I was in high school my best friend, Nancy, suggested we go to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. to do research for our term papers.  She had been there with her older sister and had been admitted to the venerable library.  Back in those days one must be a high school graduate or 18 years old to gain entrance. Now they have changed the age to 16.   It was our senior year at Groveton High school. My friend Nancy and I would not turn 18 until after graduation. Nancy didn't see any problem -- but after a bus ride from Alexandria and a walk along what seemed like miles to the library the guard at the entrance asked for proof that we were 18 or high school graduates.  I lied and said that I had left my ID at home and I didn't have a drivers license.  I don't remember what Nancy said.  The guard let us in.  

Then when dealing with depositing checks made out to Chris into the bank or credit union, I just signed his name and made the deposit.  He never seemed to have time to do it himself.  So I'm a forger also.

What made me think about libraries and lying was that in my day certain books, only suitable for those 18 or over, were kept behind the librarians desk.  One must request them.  Some tried to lie.  Now those books have gone mainstream and are available to anyone including children.  There is a divide in thinking on this.  Some parents want to supervise what their children read.  There are a few books that are helpful for those parents. Here is a podcast describing what is available.

It is true that all have sinned--including me.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,