Participants: Danny Shelton (Host), Yvonne Lewis (Host), Abigail Oswald, Caleb Dinzey, Cassidy Patton, Corbana Hodges, Danielle Babb, Honoria Hodges, Jhovy Gonzalez, John Stoddart, Trinity Murray
Series Code: 3CS
Program Code: 3CS000001A
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00:01 "When they saw the star,
00:02 they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy." 00:06 Join Danny Shelton, Yvonne Lewis, 00:08 John Stoddart, and special guest 00:10 from the Thompsonville Christian Academy, 00:12 as we celebrate this special season. 00:22 Hello and welcome. 00:23 We got a beautiful set behind us. 00:25 It almost makes me feel like it's wintry out here, right, 00:29 the Christmas time. 00:30 It's true. 00:31 And you know what, this is the fun time of year. 00:34 It is. It's one of my favorite times. 00:36 Oh, it is. Absolutely. 00:37 Now we have some special guests. 00:38 We're gonna do a little music, 00:40 we're gonna be talking with some young folk 00:41 and we want you to join us today 00:43 and just sit back and relax, and get something warm to drink 00:47 and may be-- what they used them a shawl, 00:51 when the grandma always used to put 00:52 these things around them. 00:53 They still do. Do they call it shawl? 00:55 Yeah, shawl. Is that what-- 00:56 I haven't seen them in a while. 00:57 But get back, if you got a rocking chair a little bit, 00:59 just kind of, it's a feeling out here, isn't it? 01:01 You kind of just sitting around, 01:03 fireplace is going. 01:04 Speaking of fireplace, just look over to fireplace. 01:07 You ever see such beautiful young people in your life? 01:09 Aren't they beautiful? Absolutely. 01:12 These are from our Christian school here at 3ABN. 01:15 It's a Thompsonville Christian School. 01:17 And so we got some of the upper grade kids there. 01:20 So in a little bit they are gonna be singing with us. 01:22 But we're gonna be talking to him 01:23 and talking about Christmas. 01:25 How do we deal with something like Christmas? 01:27 'Cause I've heard that means Christ Mass 01:29 and people would say when I was young, that's Catholic, 01:31 you can't have anything to do with that 01:33 and you know, so what are we? 01:36 Where do we stand as Christians 01:38 and may be in our case Seventh-day Adventist? 01:41 We need to find out a little bit more. 01:43 So we're gonna talk to these young people. 01:44 Maybe John will teach us something today. 01:46 May be we can learn something. Right. 01:47 Yvonne, speaking of that, tell us about John. 01:49 I am so excited to have John with us. 01:52 He is an incredible artist, producer, pianist, just-- 01:56 I told him earlier, I said, you know, 01:58 usually people either you play really well 02:02 and you don't sing that great or you sing really well 02:04 and you don't play that great. 02:06 But John can... I know that tune. 02:08 John can stand alone in both arenas. 02:10 So thank you for being with us. Absolutely. 02:12 Well, I'm just glad you guys let me hang out with you, Man. 02:14 This is one of my favorite times of the year. 02:17 I'm just thrilled to be here. 02:19 And you have your mom with you here. 02:20 My mom is with me hanging out, you know. 02:22 That feels like Christmas with your... 02:24 So I got a feeling that you've got 02:26 some good Christmas memories, don't you, going on? 02:28 I sure do. I sure do, yeah. 02:30 So we've learned to love mom. 02:31 She's been here quite a few days this week. 02:33 Yeah. Part of the family. 02:34 Where you all gonna try to get rid of us, 02:36 we just gonna keep showing up. 02:37 Absolutely. 02:38 We had him in our guest houses so long here. 02:40 He just wanted to go home 02:41 and we kept talking him into staying that he said, 02:44 he's gonna have to bring his pictures 02:45 and put on the walls and bring some of his furniture 02:48 and just go get her into move in here, right. 02:50 Right, bring the family and just move on in. 02:52 Incredible talent. 02:54 Thank you so much for being here 02:55 and just join us. 02:56 This really is what we call an unplanned. 02:58 With the kids, I've talked to them two or three minutes. 03:01 They don't know what's coming. I don't know what's coming. 03:03 And so we said, 03:05 "Hey, let's just go out and have some fun today." 03:07 And we've already prayed 03:08 and asked for the Holy Spirit to lead, 03:09 guide and direct in this program. 03:12 So we're gonna have a good time. 03:13 Well, we're gonna do a little bit of music. 03:15 And I think we're gonna start out 03:16 with one of my all time favorite Christmas songs, 03:20 "Silent Night." 03:29 Silent night 03:35 Holy night 03:40 All is calm 03:45 All is bright 03:50 Round yon Virgin 03:55 Mother and Child 04:00 Holy infant 04:04 So tender and mild 04:10 Sleep in heavenly peace 04:19 Sleep in heavenly peace 04:34 Silent night 04:40 Holy night 04:45 Shepherds quake 04:50 At the sight 04:56 Glories stream 05:01 From heaven afar 05:06 Heavenly hosts sing 05:11 Alleluia 05:16 Christ the Savior 05:22 Is born 05:31 Christ our Savior 05:38 Is born 05:45 Okay, John, you sing to us. 05:52 Silent night 05:58 Holy night 06:04 Son of God 06:09 He love's pure light 06:14 Radiant beams 06:19 From Thy holy face 06:24 With the dawn of 06:29 Redeeming Grace 06:35 Jesus Lord 06:39 At Thy birth, at Thy birth 06:46 Jesus Lord, at Thy birth 06:52 You know, that's not fair, don't you? 06:55 You know that is not fair. 06:56 Kids, why don't-- we're gonna do the first verse 06:58 and those of you at home singing it with us, 07:00 "Silent Night." 07:02 Silent night 07:07 Holy night 07:12 All is calm 07:18 All is bright 07:23 Round yon Virgin 07:28 Mother and Child 07:33 Holy infant 07:37 So tender and mild 07:43 Sleep in heavenly peace 07:54 Sleep in heavenly 08:03 Peace 08:19 Amen. Thank you. Amen. 08:21 Wow, isn't that amazing kids? Absolutely. 08:24 When I grow up I want to just like you. 08:28 You all have been such wonderful. 08:29 So hospitable to be-- I just so enjoyed this time 08:33 and I'm ready now. 08:34 And I'm feeling the Christmas spirit 08:36 and I just thinking about the birth of our Lord 08:39 and just get a chance to hang out 08:40 with these wonderful young people 08:42 and with you and Yvonne, 08:43 didn't get any better than this. 08:45 Absolutely. 08:46 You don't know me really well 08:47 but you're gonna get to know me a little better 08:49 because I'm very spontaneous. 08:50 Okay. 08:52 So we get on a show 08:53 and I may ask you to sing something 08:54 and then we get on here, I may say, 08:56 "Hey, John, can you do something else?" 08:57 You know, I get that sense that may be, 09:01 perhaps this is one of those moments that you just... 09:03 I'm thinking about this right now. 09:05 I'll tell you what, he wrote a song 09:07 and you may have heard it on another program 09:09 but you wrote a song and talked about 09:11 when you're home and he talked about, 09:13 he said the turkey and all of this stuff 09:15 and you actually-- I heard that and I said, 09:17 "Man, that's an-- that's got to be 09:18 one of the traditional Christmas songs." 09:21 And he said, "Well, John Stoddart wrote." 09:22 I said, "He did?" 09:24 And I don't know, can I put you on the spot? 09:26 'Cause I think these kids ought to hear this. 09:28 I would love to share it. 09:29 It's a song 09:30 that always reminds me of my grandmother. 09:32 That's a true mentioning 09:33 and just she was a wonderful cook 09:35 and comfort food. 09:36 She used to make these sweet rolls. 09:39 Oh, come on, come on now. 09:40 He started to feel them now. 09:42 I know he's reliving it, right now. 09:44 Oh, man. 09:45 I would love to share that song. 09:47 And it's easy enough to pick up y'all. 09:49 Just you out there in the audience, 09:51 out there in TV land, 09:53 if by the time I get to the third time around, 09:56 you feel like you can pick it up absolutely, 09:57 sing along with us. 09:59 It's called "Only on Christmas Day." 10:01 All right. 10:19 There in the kitchen 10:20 Come on. 10:22 Fried up the stove 10:24 Grandma is cooking 10:27 She's got food on her clothes 10:30 I smell turkey and dressing 10:33 And my favorite apple pie 10:36 And she seasons the moments 10:39 With the tear in her eye 10:42 And I feel every emotion because 10:48 The meaning of Christmas 10:51 Change what she was 10:54 Only on Christmas day 11:00 She found the star 11:03 To show her the way 11:05 To the cross at the price 11:09 That He paid 11:12 To give us this hope 11:14 On this Christmas day 11:18 Then for the first time 11:21 It all became clear 11:24 There was much more to this day 11:27 Than just snow and reindeer 11:29 All right, come on. 11:30 More than the sleigh bells 11:33 The carols and gifts 11:36 Because He took our sorrow 11:39 For much more than this 11:42 And it marked the beginning of 11:45 Of my new life 11:48 Now I'll live forever 11:50 Because He lived to die 11:54 Only on Christmas day 12:00 I found a star 12:03 To show me the way 12:05 To the cross at the price 12:08 That He paid 12:11 To give me this hope 12:14 On this Christmas day 12:17 Now you can take all the presents 12:20 The holy, the tree 12:24 Just give me Jesus 12:27 For eternity 12:35 Oh, yes 12:41 Oh, yes, Lord Yes, Lord 12:54 Only on Christmas day 13:00 I found a star 13:03 To show me the way 13:05 To the cross at the price 13:08 That He paid 13:12 To give me this hope 13:16 On this Christmas day 13:24 I found a star 13:27 To show me the way 13:29 To the cross at the price 13:32 That He paid 13:36 To give me, give me this hope 13:42 Only on this Christmas day 13:48 I found a star 13:50 To show me the way 13:53 To the cross at the price 13:56 That He paid 14:00 To give me this hope 14:04 On this Christmas day 14:12 Amen. All right. You guys, like that out there. 14:15 You got to give him a hand for that. 14:17 A hand for Jesus. All right. Praise the Lord. 14:19 You know, I want to say though, John. 14:21 I think you ought to loosen up a little more 14:22 when you sing and don't be so bash-- 14:24 I just find myself kind of a tight. I feel like it. 14:26 We call that white tight some times. 14:28 Now I can say that 14:29 but you all can't say that, okay. 14:31 White tight some time. 14:32 No, he didn't allow it 14:34 because you're just singing to the Lord. 14:35 You're just turning loose and say, here it is, 14:37 Lord, you gave it to me and now I'm giving it back to you. 14:40 And you all made me feel so at home. 14:41 So I feel these young people, you just made me feel at home. 14:44 We've had over 30 years. 14:46 Thirty years, we've had a number of artists, 14:49 I mean, hundreds of them and I don't know anybody 14:51 that does it any better than you do 14:54 and an anointing on you. 14:55 God has anointed you. 14:57 Well, I just think it's the story, 14:59 you know and the story-- God says if I am lifted up-- 15:02 There you go. 15:04 That I will draw so, you know for me, 15:06 the joy that I experience 15:08 when I get a chance to share the song 15:10 or just the gifts of writing, 15:12 you know, it points us back 15:14 to the Christmas story, you know. 15:15 We just get a chance to share this story 15:18 and I tell you, how could you not be excited about a God 15:21 who would send His Son for us like this. 15:23 Absolutely. 15:24 Thank you so much for being here. 15:26 I know you got to get down the road in a bit. 15:27 I got to get down the road in a bit 15:28 but, are you trying to get rid of me, man? 15:30 No, no, no, no. 15:32 You know what, you do that, you got to be careful. 15:33 I'll be saying okay, we got time for-- 15:35 I think we got time for one more, don't you? 15:38 So now you may be think about. 15:40 Just for that you need to do "Joy to the World." 15:42 You need to do "Joy to the World" 15:44 just for that. 15:45 "Joy to the World." Will you guys sing with me? 15:46 Kids, will you sing along? 15:48 We'll just do a couple of verses. 15:49 That would be awesome. Okay, all right. 15:50 Okay. Let's do it. 15:55 Ready, kids? At home. 15:58 Joy to the world 16:01 The Lord has come 16:03 Let earth receive her King 16:09 Let every heart 16:12 Prepare Him room 16:15 And heaven and nature sing 16:18 And heaven and nature sing 16:20 And heaven, and heaven and nature sing 16:25 One more verse. 16:28 He rules the world. Let's sing out now. 16:30 He rules the world with truth and grace 16:36 And makes the nations prove 16:41 The glories of His righteousness 16:47 And wonders of His love 16:50 And wonders of His love 16:52 And wonders, wonders, of His love. 17:02 All right. There you go. 17:05 Are you getting ready to walk off 17:06 unless you got another one? 17:08 So we got plenty of time ourselves. 17:10 But I know you are kind of in a hurry. 17:12 Mom is waiting on you. Mom is waiting on me. 17:14 But, can I come back another time? 17:16 Oh, absolutely. 17:17 If you don't we're gonna be upset at you, all right. 17:18 I'd love to come back. 17:20 Thank you so much for having me. 17:21 God bless you. 17:22 And you have a blessed Christmas. 17:24 All right, you too. You too. 17:25 God bless. Blessed Christmas, everyone. 17:26 All right, we're gonna come over here 17:28 and visit with the kids now for a bit. 17:32 Wow. Praise the Lord. 17:34 Brother John, Mr. John can sing and play, can't he? 17:37 Yeah. He can. 17:38 I'm sorry he has to go, aren't you? 17:41 Can he play another one before he leaves? 17:43 Oh, I, yes, he will. We won't even ask him. 17:47 Yeah, he will play. You are in demand, John. 17:50 So you have to stay just a little while, please. 17:53 Okay. I think he said yes. 17:55 I'm not even gonna, I'm not even gonna look. 17:57 Wow, it's good to be here with all of you. 18:00 You know that song that he just did 18:01 was co-written with another friend of mine, Hallerin Hill. 18:05 Oh, wow. 18:06 "Only on Christmas Day," it was a song that I sing 18:09 "Just once more, Hallerin Hill wrote that song 18:11 and he co-wrote this passage, 18:13 this song "Only on Christmas Day." 18:15 I thought it was one of the traditional 18:18 old Christmas songs and like, you know, 18:20 "Like Christmas" and some of those. 18:22 I mean, yeah, it's beautiful song. 18:24 Beautiful. And what a great talent. 18:27 Well, what we should do, we should introduce. 18:29 Why don't we, we'll just get your first names. 18:31 We'll start over here with my Trinity. 18:35 My name is Trinity. My name is Corbana. 18:38 I am Honoria. My name is Denielle. 18:40 I'm Abbey. My name is Jhovy. 18:42 I'm Caleb. My name is Cassidy. 18:45 All right. 18:46 And all these young folk 18:47 are from the Christian Academy. 18:50 Christian School and right here on the 3ABN Campus. 18:54 And so that's what, grade seven to ten? 18:56 Yeah. Seven through ten. All right. 18:59 Great group of young folk and I'm telling you, they all-- 19:01 how many of you play any instruments? 19:04 Every-- do you see that? Every hand goes up. 19:06 And what are some of the instruments you all play there? 19:10 Violin, guitar. Trumpet. Piano. 19:12 What do play, Trin? 19:13 I play the clarinet and the trumpet. 19:15 Okay, how about you? Viola, guitar. 19:18 Okay. And you play guitar too, Trin. 19:20 Yeah. All right. And, Honoria? 19:22 Piano and violin. Okay. 19:23 Oboe and flute. Viola and flute. 19:28 Guitar and clarinet. 19:30 Clarinet, base clarinet and alto sax. 19:32 And guitar. And guitar. 19:34 You're a good guitar player, Caleb, don't forget that. 19:37 You make me look bad. 19:40 Caleb is-- I mean, this kid, he started, 19:42 I mean, he is improving so much, a great talent. 19:45 I play piano and trumpet. Okay. 19:47 You make me feel like a slouch. 19:50 Well, you know what, honestly, they are so great 19:53 and Miss Haney, we are so thankful 19:55 because she has instruments galore. 19:57 I'm talking about, they have a lot of instruments. 20:00 And these kids, when they get in those grades, 20:02 actually do you start younger. 20:04 Some of the younger kids? Oh, what about the chimes? 20:06 Did anybody say chimes? 20:07 Oh, we did say, but yeah. 20:09 We all still chimes to some-- 20:10 I mean, they can keep naming all these instruments. 20:13 But we are here today, 20:14 and I ask if they could get off of class a little bit. 20:16 We haven't talked very much. 20:18 But we wanted to talk about Christmas. 20:21 And did you all know that what I've been told 20:24 is people say you shouldn't talk about Christmas 20:26 because that means Christ mass and mass, you know, 20:30 Catholic Church has mass. 20:31 Well, if you are protestants, 20:32 so you shouldn't be using the term Christmas. 20:36 But there are certain things over the period of time 20:39 that people say, oh, it's Christmas time. 20:41 It doesn't mean you anything except you believe. 20:44 For me when I hear Christmas and I'll use the word. 20:47 Years ago, I didn't. 20:49 And we use it on 3ABN Yvonne, we would say, 20:51 things like the holidays and all of that. 20:53 But then when the world said we're not gonna say Christmas 20:56 'cause we want to take, we want to say the holidays. 20:59 I said, no, we got to go back the other way. 21:01 They are gonna take Christ out of the season 21:04 and we can't forget. 21:05 So we say Christmas is okay. 21:08 But Christmas is, we-- I want you all to understand. 21:11 I'm sure you do and the viewers at home. 21:13 We know that Christmas, 21:15 Christ was not born on December the 25th. 21:18 Everybody knows that right? And He wasn't. So why that? 21:21 I won't get into long Bible study. 21:23 But there's where you get into some of the false teachings 21:27 and how Christmas and they substituted 21:30 the birth of Christ 21:32 on something very important happened. 21:34 You're gonna look it up on December 25th. 21:37 But we're not gonna talk about that today. 21:39 You can look it up at home, you'll find out what it is. 21:42 But now instead of celebrating 21:46 this time of year of Christ's birth, 21:48 somebody came up with a character named Santa Claus. 21:52 So St. Nick, right? What do you know about him? 21:56 I-- you know, I don't much about St. Nick. 21:58 Well, good. I really don't. 22:00 'Cause my parents never-- they always said 22:03 there's no such thing as Santa Claus. 22:04 What? 22:06 They did not teach me 22:07 that there was anything such thing as Santa Claus. 22:09 So I didn't, I never believed in Santa Claus. 22:11 I have people say that's terrible. 22:13 You should not tell your kids there's not a Santa Claus. 22:16 I'm glad they didn't. 22:17 How many of you kids, your parents, 22:19 you grew up believing there was a Santa Claus? 22:23 None of you? 22:24 Well, praise the Lord for your parents, right. 22:27 Praise the Lord for your parents. 22:29 Because I've always said, Yvonne that well, in fact, 22:32 when Melody was little, Trinity too, 22:34 we've never said oh, there is a Santa Claus, 22:38 because I've thought about, 22:40 you know, parents teach their kids, 22:41 there's Santa Claus, there is Easter Bunny 22:43 and I don't know what for every season. 22:45 Tooth fairy. Tooth fairy, okay. 22:48 Even though I've been-- some of those things 22:50 'cause I gave the gifts and I put dollars 22:52 when the tooth goes. 22:54 But the kids know it's not the tooth fairy 22:56 or it's not a Santa Claus, right. 22:59 I've been there but people have said 23:01 "That's not right. 23:02 You should let these little kids 23:04 believe in Santa Claus. 23:05 It's fun and we got all the reindeer 23:07 and the stories." 23:09 But I felt like if I teach-- was to teach my children, 23:12 and your parents, obviously, and your's too, Miss. Yvonne, 23:15 that there is a Santa Claus. 23:18 Then when the kids get older and find out there's not, 23:21 they say, "My parents lied to me." 23:23 Really, there's not, 23:25 you mean there's not an Easter Bunny 23:26 that's bringing all these eggs? 23:28 I mean, really when kids are-- 23:30 it doesn't take you too long when you decide 23:32 how does Santa Claus come down all of these fireplaces 23:35 when 90 percent of the houses nowadays 23:37 probably don't have fireplace, you know. 23:39 So how does he do all of that? 23:41 And how did he deliver around the whole world, 23:45 everybody's presents? 23:46 I mean, some people with a lot of money, 23:48 they got a houseful of presents, 23:50 it'd take hours to deliver right. 23:52 That's not any of us, I know. So common sense. 23:55 But I think we should tell the kids the truth. 23:58 But now, should we celebrate Christmas 24:01 and how should we celebrate Christmas 24:02 is what I'd really like to talk about today. 24:05 Does anybody have any ideas? How do you celebrate Christmas? 24:08 Do you trade gifts or anything at home? 24:11 Yes, actually like in just like, 24:13 you know, we like presents and stuff 24:15 but I also think 24:16 that it's good to like give and share with others, 24:18 you know, just little gifts. 24:20 Okay. Anybody else? How do you feel about that? 24:23 Do you all get presents or give presents 24:26 to your brothers, sisters or parents or anyone? 24:29 Yeah, I feel as long as you are celebrating it 24:32 for the right reason and you know all the stuff 24:34 behind it that what is, is and what is not true, 24:37 then it is okay to celebrate it. 24:38 Okay, anybody else? 24:41 It's always nice to celebrate with your family too 24:43 'cause most people get with their family members 24:45 and talk about how their year went 24:47 so I think that's really nice to do during Christmas. 24:50 Very good Trin, very good. Anybody else. 24:52 You like this time of the year, right. 24:54 Oh, yeah. 24:55 Even though you don't believe in Santa Claus 24:56 you still like this time of year. 24:58 Okay, Caleb. 25:00 My family, they also exchange gifts 25:02 but I mean, you can get gifts any time during the year. 25:05 It's not anything too special but I mean, 25:08 we need to remember the ultimate gift, 25:10 Jesus coming to this world. 25:11 So I think it's a good idea to remember Christmas. 25:15 What about songs? 25:16 I'm gonna get in some little 25:18 may be a little more difficult subject for you. 25:20 What about songs. 25:21 If we don't believe there's a Santa Claus, 25:24 what about songs like "Jingle Bells" 25:26 or "Silver Bells" or some of that? 25:28 Does that offend you when you go into store, 25:31 say at Wal-Mart's or wherever, 25:33 are you okay with that or does that offend you? 25:37 No, it doesn't. 25:38 It 's just like as in you grow, 25:40 when we were little or like younger, 25:41 we grew up already knowing that "Jingle Bells" song, 25:44 we were taught at a very young age. 25:45 I don't, if you like, 25:47 if you know the things that's behind it 25:48 and you just sing it, like in a joyful mood, 25:50 just to sing around your friends, 25:52 I don't think it's bad too. 25:53 Yeah. 25:55 Don't you think, you know, the song, for instance, 25:57 "Santa Claus is coming to town 26:01 You better watch out you better not pout 26:03 Better not cry I'm telling you why 26:06 Santa Claus is coming to town" 26:09 Then it says, 26:10 "He knows when you are sleeping 26:12 He knows when you are awake 26:15 He knows if you've been bad or good 26:17 So be good for goodness sake" 26:19 Now what's wrong with that song? 26:21 They are taking Santa and making him my God. 26:22 Say that again, please. 26:24 They are taking Santa and making him my God. 26:26 Absolutely. Very astute. 26:28 Did everybody catch that? 26:30 'Cause who is the only person in the world 26:33 that knows if you've been bad or good? 26:35 God. 26:36 And who is the only one who knows when you are sleeping 26:38 and knows when you are awake? 26:39 God. 26:41 So the devil has come in and people write about it 26:45 and they act like it's true 26:47 that Santa Claus now has taken the place 26:50 so the goal of Satan is to get rid of Jesus, 26:54 take the Christ out of Christmas as they say. 26:57 What's your thoughts, Miss. Yvonne? 26:59 Well, I think it's great that you know, 27:01 the kids have a real grasp on the reality 27:04 of what Christmas is really is about. 27:06 It's about giving, it's about family time, 27:08 it's about sharing love with each other 27:11 and your family and stuff 27:13 and all that stuff about Santa Claus and all. 27:15 You know the truth. 27:17 So you know that Santa is not, is not real. 27:19 So I think they are in a really good place. 27:21 They are. 27:22 But you know what, if I went to a public school right now 27:25 and I sit down and I talked with a lot of kids, 27:28 in fact, I'd like to sometime 27:29 because I'd be very interested to say, 27:31 how old are you now, Caleb? 27:33 I'm 15. 27:34 I'd like to talk to a 15-year-old 27:36 in public school and say, "Now how many of you, 27:39 your parents taught you there's Santa Claus? 27:42 How many of you 15-year-olds 27:44 still believe there's a Santa Claus?" 27:47 And I doubt, I hope none of their hands would raise 27:51 but if they did, I would say, 27:52 well, how do you feel about that? 27:53 I mean, don't you feel a little bit deceived. 27:56 Your folks telling you all these things 27:57 and then well, if you do that 27:59 how do you know there is a Jesus. 28:01 May be they just made that up too, you see. 28:03 So that's my concern in trying to convince 28:07 or I'm gonna call, I'm gonna go ahead and call it a lie. 28:10 I mean, I know that doesn't sound right 28:12 at this time of year, 28:13 don't want to damper any of your spirits. 28:15 But really, if it's not truth, it's a lie. 28:19 Am I telling the truth? Yes. 28:20 So there is no-- sometimes people will say, 28:23 well, it's a partial truth. 28:25 No, there is no partial truth. 28:27 There is only truth and there is a lie. 28:29 That's right. 28:30 So I would like to see what other young people think 28:34 but we got a great, great parents 28:36 and the young people 28:38 and so nobody feels like you got cheated in life 28:40 'cause you folks didn't teach you 28:41 there's a Santa Claus, huh? 28:43 Or probably all the happier for it. 28:46 What's your favorite thing to do at Christmas time? 28:49 What's your favorite thing to do? 28:51 I like spending time with family. 28:54 I like the food and like... 28:57 It's all right. 28:59 But-- and one of the things we used to do is 29:01 we would always go out before like the Christmas day 29:04 and we would buy matching socks, 29:07 Christmas socks and, you know, just sit by the fire 29:11 and make hot cocoa and just have family time. 29:14 It's fun. Nice, that's nice. 29:16 What do we put up every year, Trin? 29:18 A big Christmas tree. 29:20 That's a big one, isn't it? Yes. 29:21 It's like 12 or 14 feet tall 29:24 and these girls and some of these kids 29:26 come over and what do we do? 29:28 Decorate it. We decorate it. 29:30 Because we like to. 29:31 Somebody said, "Why do you do that?" 29:33 'Cause we like to. It's fun. The kids like to do it. 29:36 What else do we do in the winter time? 29:37 We get a little snow here sometimes, six, eight inches. 29:40 We-- in Southern Illinois, we don't get a lot of snow. 29:43 Some winters we you can get a little more, 29:44 some we get very little. 29:46 But when theirs is some snow and ice outside 29:48 what do we like to do? 29:49 We like to sledding. 29:51 Yeah. We got a Kubota. 29:53 I used to, you know, when she's small, 29:55 I could pull them around the kids, 29:56 pull around on, you know, pull literally, pull the sled. 30:00 Well, that gets old really quick 30:02 'cause where we live, we have some hills. 30:04 It's really fun going down those hills 30:06 but it's not very much fun going back up. 30:09 And so one time I remembered, 30:11 Trin was pretty little 30:13 and I don't know if she remembers this 30:14 but I didn't have any sleds. 30:16 I went to the stores around, Wal-Mart, K-Mart. 30:19 And they said, no, we're sold out 30:21 'cause we got this big snow. 30:23 So everybody was so excited. 30:25 I couldn't find a sled and I said, 30:27 oh, man, I wanted to get a sled for her. 30:29 So I had a great big hard luggage case. 30:32 It's a hard luggage, right. Yeah. 30:34 I took a hack saw and I cut it in half 30:37 and it made turn it upside down and it made two sleds. 30:40 It was deep so she could sit in it. 30:42 Oh, fun. Yeah, it's better than a sled. 30:44 So she could sit inside, hold on to the side 30:47 so we got some big hills. 30:48 So I'd get on top and just push her down 30:50 and I mean, she would fly down those hills. 30:53 Do you remember any of that? 30:54 A little bit, a little bit. Yeah, absolutely. 30:56 Then we got those plastic ones, right. 30:58 Now you and the girls, 31:00 you know, Corbana and I pull them. 31:01 Now I got smarter. 31:03 I got a-- like a Kubota, that's got, you can get inside 31:06 and I don't have to get all the cold air 31:07 and the wind, right. 31:08 I'm getting old so you try to protect that. 31:11 But now, you can pull, 31:12 I just put them on long ropes and pull them. 31:14 And I'll try to do big circles and some of these kids, 31:17 they'd come over to the house, 31:19 you have-- turned you over a few times, right. 31:22 Oh, my goodness. 31:24 They go out there all warmed up, 31:25 pretty soon they are in the house 'cause it's-- 31:28 they get all wet in the snow. 31:29 But it's fun, isn't it. So this time of year is fun. 31:32 We can have a lot of fun 31:34 without believing in Santa Claus 31:35 and with all of that 31:37 and without celebrating Christmas as such. 31:40 We can know that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. 31:45 But that doesn't, 31:47 I don't think that should affect 31:49 how we feel because this is the only time of year, 31:52 where else where other time of year, 31:53 I don't know of any, I could be wrong 31:55 that you can go into all these stores, 31:57 or groceries stores or shopping malls 31:59 and hearing songs being sung about Jesus? 32:02 You can't even talk about Him in public schools. 32:04 They won't play it. 32:06 But at this time of year, Christmas time, they do. 32:08 So we don't care what they call it, 32:10 as long as they are playing Christmas music, 32:13 playing music about Jesus, I think it's great. 32:16 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, it is. 32:19 This is the time of year when people are reminded 32:22 about the whole story, the Christmas story 32:25 and we just hope and pray as Christians 32:27 that someone will hear it and think, 32:30 man, I want to get to know Him better. 32:32 I want to know who He is 32:34 and so I think it's great that we hear these songs 32:37 in the stores and all of that. 32:39 Absolutely. It's good. 32:40 What's your favorite thing you like to do 32:42 around Christmas time? 32:45 I love the music. Oh, okay, all right. 32:48 Also, at the academy 32:50 when we have some tradition every-- 32:53 around Christmas time every year, 32:57 she got this little ornamental pickle 33:00 and we take turns hiding it and they try to find it. 33:04 It's a pickle? Yeah, it's an ornament pickle. 33:06 Ornament pickle. I've never even seen an ornament pickle. 33:09 Didn't know they had such a thing. 33:11 And then after everybody else found it 33:13 then she gives out pickle packages. 33:16 All right. 33:18 Last time I tried to pick up the pickle, 33:20 I got poked by something. 33:23 "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." 33:25 Here anyone ever heard that? Yeah, yeah. 33:27 Oh, they did. I figured out it was-- 33:29 What do you like about Christmas? 33:32 I like how at our church we have an Agape feast. 33:37 What is an Agape feast for those who don't know? 33:39 At our church we have a big dinner, 33:42 well, it's not that much food but a lot of people come 33:45 and we get to celebrate Jesus and His birth. 33:47 Okay. Well, that's wonderful. 33:49 So it's their celebration of Jesus. 33:52 Not necessarily of the season but Jesus of the season. 33:55 What do you like? 33:57 I like the songs and spending time with my family. 34:00 Okay. 34:01 Do you like to get outside when there's snow on the ground? 34:04 Do you like it out play or do you like 34:05 rather sit inside and read a book or something? 34:08 Outside. 34:10 Going outside. Yeah, I thought so. 34:11 I thought so. 34:13 I got a feeling Caleb would spend sometime out there too. 34:15 What do you like best? 34:17 I like the fellowship with family 34:18 and like all the food. 34:21 So we got several that's honest about it. 34:23 All right. How many likes the food? 34:26 Okay, all of us have been on this too. 34:27 Did you raise your hand, Miss. Yvonne? 34:29 Oh, I definitely love the food. 34:31 I was looking to see if she raised her hand. 34:32 We've been talking about truth, you know. 34:35 So that's a good time of year. 34:37 But sometimes people make food 34:40 that you don't even eat the rest of the year. 34:42 I don't like cranberries, you know, 34:44 like I don't eat that-- may be a lot of you, 34:47 do you all eat cranberries everyday? 34:49 You know in the slice 34:51 but some reason for Thanksgiving and Christmas, 34:54 you have cranberries. 34:55 And there is all kinds of things 34:57 that I look on the table 34:58 and I say, well, that's not bad. 34:59 I wonder why we only eat it this time of year. 35:02 And... 35:04 You know, I'm getting really hungry right now. 35:07 Oh, one thing we forgot to mention is snow angels. 35:10 I like doing that more out in the snow. 35:11 Snow is just falling on 35:12 and then you just move your hands 35:14 and make this little big snow angel like that. 35:16 You fall on your back. Yeah. 35:19 I almost would have you do this. 35:20 But I'm afraid it won't do it right in this kind of snow. 35:24 But you fall on your back 35:25 and you move your arms this way. 35:26 You arms and your legs... 35:28 And it looks like? Snow angel. 35:29 Angel wings, right. 35:30 Okay. All right. And also Christmas lights. 35:34 Oh, Christmas... 35:35 Oh, yeah. 35:37 What do we have in West Frankfort, Trinity? 35:38 It's a candy cane land where the whole neighborhood 35:42 puts lights all over their houses 35:44 and it's really nice to look at. 35:46 We have people that come for, 35:49 sometimes 100 miles around to the little town 35:52 where my hometown, 35:53 born and raised in West Frankfort Illinois 35:55 and Tim Murphy, who I went to school with, 35:58 I think he's a year or so graduated before me. 36:01 He's the art teacher up at 36:02 West Frankfurt Community High School. 36:05 So he started putting out having his art class. 36:07 Make all of these, whether it's movies from Disney 36:10 or whatever, all of these. 36:12 They'd literally take plywood and they paint them 36:14 and all these characters. 36:15 Then they get music going. 36:17 And every year, a year after year 36:19 this thing gets bigger and bigger and bigger, 36:22 till then they got neighbors. 36:23 It got too big for his yard, and he has a big yard. 36:26 Then they got their neighbors involved. 36:28 And other so people will line up 36:30 a week or two before Christmas. 36:32 You can be, what, half a mile on Main Street 36:35 waiting to get to go look at candy cane land 36:38 and that's so neat and then you got 36:40 little Christmas music playing and that's a lot of neat 36:43 we always, we always like to do that. 36:45 Yeah, yeah. 36:46 When, when I was growing up, 36:49 my mom used to take me to Radio City. 36:52 And they would have this huge Christmas program 36:55 with the camels going across the stage. 36:58 And the Lambs and the shepherds. 37:00 And where was that? In New York. 37:01 New York. In New York and. 37:04 And then there was this angel 37:06 that would stand on the side and sing, 37:08 "Oh, Holy Night" And I though, one day. 37:10 I want to, I want to sing at Radio City. 37:14 I want to sing "Oh, Holy Night." 37:15 Which I never did get to do by the way. 37:17 Oh, you can do right now. 37:18 You can do it right now if you want. 37:21 Do you want to sing "Oh, Holy Night?" 37:24 How about if I do it in another time? 37:26 Okay. All right. We'll let you do. 37:28 We've already put Brother John on the spot. 37:29 Yes. Oh my goodness. 37:31 What we like to do, show me the little book, 37:32 just kind of show it towards. 37:34 I don't know if any of you have seen these books, 37:36 let's get a shot of Honoria there. 37:38 It says, the Bible Story, written by Arthur Maxwell. 37:42 And when Melody was little and younger and Trinity 37:45 and still with the grandkids every year, 37:46 we like to go down. 37:48 Now they live in Nashville, can't believe they left pop 37:51 and went to Nashville, Tennessee. 37:53 I mean, who would want to go to Nashville 37:54 when you can live here in West Frankfort, right. 37:56 I don't get it but they did for work reasons and others. 38:00 But I always, when we go down there, 38:02 we take presents and we trade but we want to make sure 38:05 that grandkids understand what this is all about. 38:07 It's not just about the presents. 38:09 So I always take, it's, I think this is book 7. 38:12 Is that what it says there? I think it's book number 7. 38:16 There is 10 volumes 38:18 and a lot of you have seen these 38:20 and at doctor's offices and hospitals. 38:24 The Uncle Arthur Bible Stories. 38:26 And they are great stories and he's telling the story. 38:29 It goes through the Bible but he's telling it in a way 38:32 that it's easier to understand, may be for some folk. 38:36 And not just children 'cause I enjoy it 38:37 and every year, I usually read-- 38:39 start with this and read the story 38:41 about Jesus and His birth. 38:43 We don't have time to read all of that today. 38:45 But Honoria, you volunteered. 38:46 I said, "Do we have any readers that will volunteer?" 38:49 And she raised her hand. 38:51 So we're gonna take a biblical account 38:54 of what really happened. 38:56 We know it wasn't December 25th, 38:57 probably in the fall of the year. 38:59 I'm not sure. 39:00 I'm not a theologian but that's what I'm told. 39:02 But in any case, tell us what happened. 39:05 This is Story 6 and it's called "No Vacancy." 39:09 It says, "Have you ever been traveling late at night 39:12 and found a 'No vacancy' sign on every auto court and motel? 39:17 If so you know how very tired it made you feel. 39:21 The thought that there was no place to rest, 39:23 nowhere to go seemed just too much to take, didn't it? 39:27 Imagine then how poor Joseph and Mary felt 39:29 when they reached the only inn in town 39:32 and found it full, too overflowing. 39:35 There was no room for them in the end. 39:37 It wasn't the inn keeper's fault. 39:39 He couldn't help it. 39:40 Probably he was beside himself trying to find food, 39:43 let alone rooms 39:44 for all the people crowding into the city 39:47 to obey the decree of Caesar Augustus. 39:50 When he saw Mary and guess what was the matter. 39:52 I'm sure he was sorry for her. Who would not have been. 39:57 But what could he do. 39:58 When the hotel was full, it's full. 40:00 That's all. 40:02 Of course, if the innkeeper had known all Mary knew 40:05 that it was the Messiah himself, 40:07 who was to be born that night, 40:09 he would have found a place for her somewhere, 40:12 even if he had to give up his own room. 40:14 And here he missed a great blessing. 40:17 What a story he would had 40:18 have had to tell for the rest of his life. 40:21 How famous his inn would have become. 40:24 People would have talked of his good fortune 40:26 till the end of time. 40:28 By failing to do the best he could 40:29 for a poor needed girl, he lost a great opportunity. 40:34 Jesus may well say to him some day, 40:36 and as much as he did it 40:37 not to one of the least of these, 40:40 he did it not to me. 40:41 How careful we should be 40:43 when someone comes to us in need. 40:45 But in the hurry and bustle of the moment, 40:47 the inn keeper did not think of all this. 40:50 Instead, he offered his stable. 40:52 'The stable,' Joseph said, 'is that all you have. 40:55 At least its shelter and better than nothing. 40:58 The stable. 41:00 As Mary heard the words, her heart sink. 41:02 All day she had longed 41:04 for a comfortable place to rest. 41:06 Now there was nothing but a stable. 41:08 Maybe she cried. 41:10 I'm sure she thought of what Gabriel had said to her. 41:12 He shall be great 41:14 and shall be called the Son of the highest. 41:16 And the Lord God shall give unto him 41:18 the throne of His father, David. 41:20 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. 41:23 And of His kingdom there shall be no end. 41:27 Could he have been mistaken? 41:28 She wondered. 41:29 If what Gabriel had said was true, 41:31 why was there nothing ready for her baby. 41:34 Surely, the Son of the Highest 41:36 should not be born in a smelly old stable. 41:39 A door creaked in the darkness. 41:41 Joseph went ahead with a lantern. 41:44 A cow mooed, a horse neighed, a rooster crowed. 41:48 'This way,' said Joseph, 41:49 'there's some clean straw over here.' 41:51 Peering through the gloom, Mary saw an empty manger 41:55 half filled with hay for the cows to eat. 41:57 "This will do for the baby he said." 41:59 'A Manger?' 'Yes. It will do.' 42:01 But what a strange place 42:03 for the Son of the Highest to lie. 42:05 Strange indeed. 42:06 He could not have chosen a humbler place 42:08 for His coming into the world. 42:10 Perhaps it was because He wanted the humblest 42:13 and the poorest to know that He loved them 42:15 and that He was willing to share their lot. 42:18 No red carpet was spread for Him 42:20 when He came from heaven to earth. 42:22 There was only the straw on a muddy floor. 42:26 No fine linen. 42:27 No downing quilt was provided for His bed. 42:30 Only the fragrant hey. 42:32 No trumpets blared a welcome when He came. 42:35 There was no sound at all, save the mooing of cows, 42:38 the neighing of horses, the braying of donkeys, 42:41 the barking of dogs 42:42 as the dumb creatures of His creation 42:45 tried their best to say, 42:47 'We are glad you've come to see us.' 42:49 Then suddenly it happened. 42:51 The wonderful baby was born. And they called Him Jesus. 42:54 Nobody was there, save Joseph and Mary and the angels. 42:59 Yet, it was the most wonderful event in history. 43:02 All Heaven had waited thousands of years 43:04 for this moment. 43:05 Patriarchs in prophets, 43:07 have longed for it since the dawn of time. 43:09 Yet, nobody was there. 43:11 Nobody knew, nobody cared. 43:13 In His infinite love, 43:15 the Son of God had stepped from heaven to earth 43:17 to take on the likeness of man. 43:20 And the form of a servant. 43:22 There He might be our savior and Redeemer. 43:24 And here He was lying in a manger. 43:27 Here was the all powerful Lord of creation, 43:30 weak and helpless as a little child. 43:32 Here was the all wise King eternal, 43:35 unable to speak a single word. 43:37 Here was a source of all life depended for food upon a girl. 43:42 This was indeed love divine. 43:44 All of excelling joy of heaven to earth come down. 43:48 Don't you wish you could have been there to welcome Him, 43:51 just to say Thank you, dear Lord, 43:53 for such love as this?" 43:55 Amen. Beautiful. Thank you, Honoria. 43:57 Great job. What a great job. 43:59 And that's so fitting. 44:00 It was no accident that He was born in a manger. 44:03 It wasn't like the Creator of the universe 44:05 that He couldn't have had a good place 44:07 but this shows from humble beginnings, 44:10 that none of us no matter who we are, 44:12 we can't say, "Well, yeah, Jesus did okay, 44:15 but He was born with wealthy parents 44:17 or He was born in beautiful home and now, 44:20 I mean, how many of us were born in a stable? 44:23 How many of you were born in your house? 44:25 What? No. 44:27 How about you, Miss. Yvonne. 44:28 No, no. I was born in a hospital. 44:29 I was born in a house 44:31 'cause-- all my brothers were 44:34 'cause we couldn't afford to go to the hospital all time 44:35 we were kind of poor. 44:37 And so we only lived two blocks from the hospital. 44:40 But my mother 44:42 when she was getting ready to deliver, 44:45 shouldn't call one of their sister-in-laws. 44:46 My dad had 12-- 44:48 there's 12 brother and sisters. 44:50 So she'd call some of those. 44:51 One of those, Aunt Mildred had 12 children. 44:54 So when she was getting ready to deliver a baby, 44:57 she would call my mom 44:58 so my mom would go help her deliver. 45:00 Then when my mom was having one 45:02 and one of my Uncle Bud and his family, 45:04 they had eight kids. 45:05 So they all just helped each other. 45:06 The women went and delivered for him, 45:08 and hey, he didn't have to go the hospital. 45:10 Everybody lived. None of us died from that. 45:13 Then my sister, Tammy, 45:15 she's eight years younger to me. 45:16 She was spoiled. 45:17 She got to be born in a hospital. 45:19 But that's okay. 45:20 A little house it's still, still standing in their own, 45:22 812 West Wharton Street, West Frankfort, Illinois. 45:25 It's a humble place 45:26 but not nearly as humble as a stable. 45:29 Now, you know a little bit about stalls and stables. 45:31 How good do they smell, Trin? Not very good. 45:35 Not very good for sure, 45:37 yet, Jesus chose to be born there. 45:40 The Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, 45:42 God the Holy Spirit decided, this is where we're gonna do 45:46 we want no advantage of anyone else on earth 45:50 so we you know, this is where we're gonna be born. 45:53 So it's no accident. 45:54 Why don't you hand this book to Miss. Yvonne 45:56 and Miss. Yvonne, 45:58 maybe you could read a little farther? 46:01 I'm not sure what the next chapter is 46:02 but we'll find out what it is here. 46:05 So to me it's what she's looking for 46:07 it was after the vacancy. 46:09 I think it was that the night of nights. 46:11 But to me in this beautiful that the Son of man, 46:15 Jesus Christ said you know what. 46:17 I don't want any advantages. 46:19 I'm going to come here in human flesh. 46:21 Because we have to understand and may be 46:23 I don't know how much you understand about this. 46:26 But if you think about it that He was God, 46:31 yet He was human. 46:33 In human form. 46:34 That means, when He was young 46:36 and He cut His finger, it hurt, right. 46:39 And yet, the spiritual side of Him says, 46:44 hey, I don't have to do this I don't even have to bleed. 46:46 I can, I could come down. 46:48 But it wouldn't have been a great sacrifice if we say, 46:51 He tells us not to sin and He says, you know, 46:56 to ask Him for forgiveness and don't go sin. 46:59 And then when we do, we'd say well, yeah, 47:01 but Lord, You didn't sin because You were perfect 47:05 and You created you didn't have an advantage. 47:07 Christ could have sinned had He wanted to. 47:10 But He didn't want to. 47:11 He decided to carry the sins of the whole world 47:14 and because of His perfection, it covers our imperfection. 47:19 But in order for that to happen, 47:21 we have to confess our sins to Jesus. 47:24 The Bible says, "If we confess our sins. 47:26 He's faithful and just to forgive us from our sins 47:29 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 47:31 So we want those at home and all of you today, 47:34 no matter what you do in life, 47:36 I don't care how bad something you do, 47:39 you're so ashamed, you think it's terrible. 47:41 You wouldn't want anybody to know it. 47:43 Well, Jesus already knows it. 47:44 And you know what, if you repent, 47:46 He's willing to forgive you from whatever that is. 47:49 I think we've got time for "Night of Nights." 47:51 It's gonna be good. Miss. Yvonne is a good reader. 47:53 "Night of Nights." 47:56 "Suppose you've been living in Bethlehem that night 47:58 when Jesus was born. 48:00 What would you have seen and heard? 48:02 Imagine for a moment you're there, 48:04 you and your brother or sister, it's a warm night. 48:07 So you're lying on a bed 48:09 on the roof of a flat topped house. 48:11 The rest of the family is asleep 48:13 but you're awake, 48:14 looking up at the sky trying to count the stars. 48:17 'I never saw so many people in our town,' you say. 48:21 'I wonder how long they'll stay' 48:22 says your brother. 48:24 "Till the taxing is over I suppose." 48:26 Then there's silence for a moment. 48:28 'I've been wondering,' you say. 48:30 'Wondering what?' 48:32 'About what father is been telling us lately. 48:34 You know about the Messiah's coming. 48:36 He says the time is nearly up 48:39 and the all prophecies must be fulfilled soon.' 48:42 'Isn't he coming to Bethlehem?' 'Yes. He's to be born here.' 48:46 The Prophet Micah says so.' 48:48 'I wonder when.' There's a pause. Then a cry. 48:52 'Look at that up there in the sky.' 48:54 'What? Where?' 'The light the beautiful light. 48:56 What can it be?' 'Looks like a star. 48:59 It's right over the inn.' 'No, it isn't.' 49:02 'It's over the stable behind the inn.' 49:04 'What can be happening? Let's go and see.' 49:07 'Quietly now. Don't wake everybody.' 49:10 Silently you both creep downstairs 49:13 across the road and walk toward the end. 49:16 Suddenly you stop. 49:17 For the light seems to have moved outside the town. 49:20 You run past the guards at the gates 49:22 and across the fields to the place 49:24 where the shepherds keep their sheep at night. 49:26 You see a group of men standing open mouthed 49:29 as a glorious being talks to them. 49:34 'Can this be the Messiah you wonder?' 49:36 'Surely not.' 'Then it must be an angel.' 49:39 You hear him saying, 'Fear not for behold 49:42 I bring you good tidings of great joy. 49:44 Which shall be to all people. 49:47 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, 49:51 which is Christ the Lord.' 49:53 'Did you hear that?' You ask. 49:56 He says Messiah is here. That he has just been born. 50:00 'Listen, the angel is speaking again. 50:04 And there should be a sign on to you.' the angel says. 50:07 'You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 50:10 lying in a manger.' 50:11 Suddenly you see a perfectly marvelous sight 50:14 right before your eyes appears a multitude of shining angels 50:18 thousands of them, thousands of them 50:20 all singing together 'Glory to God in the highest. 50:23 And on earth peace. Good will toward men.' 50:27 The whole heavens are flooded with light. 50:30 Everywhere it's as bright as day. 50:32 You can see the rugged mountains all around. 50:35 The awestruck shepherds, the trembling sheep 50:38 and every building in Bethlehem. 50:40 'Oh yes.' And the angels. 50:42 So many angels, all singing their loudest 50:45 as though they've been waiting ages and ages to sing the song. 50:49 'Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest.' 50:54 The majestic music seems to roll clear around the world. 50:57 And out toward the stars. 50:59 'Glory to God in the highest.' 51:02 Then more gently on earth. 'Peace good will toward men.' 51:06 How tenderly and hopefully they sing these closing words 51:09 of their lovely hymn of praise. 51:11 It is as if they longed to see men everywhere 51:15 welcome their Savior with open arms 51:17 and make Him the Lord of their lives. 51:20 As suddenly as they came the angels disappear. 51:23 Darkness settles again over the fields in the hills. 51:27 You watch the shepherds to see what they will do. 51:29 You hear them say, 51:31 let us now go even unto Bethlehem 51:33 and see this thing which has come to pass, 51:35 which the Lord hath made known and to us. 51:38 'Let's go at once' they all cry. 51:40 And you see them hurrying off toward the city gate 51:43 stumbling over rocks and briars in their haste. 51:45 But getting up and hurrying on, 51:47 eager to tell somebody the great news they've heard. 51:51 You run behind them to see where they will go. 51:53 They pass a sleepy eyed citizen near the end, 51:56 "Was a baby born around here midnight? 51:58 'Tonight?' The shepherd asked. 52:00 'Yes. Down there in the stable.' 52:02 They run on. It's still dark. The dawn is on the way. 52:06 A dim light comes through cracks in the door. 52:10 And what is this, a baby's cry. 52:12 This must be the place. 52:14 They push open the door and peer in. 52:16 You are right behind them. 52:18 At the far end, the man is standing. 52:20 Behind him is a young woman, resting on a pile of straw. 52:24 Beside her in a manger is a baby 52:26 wrapped in swaddling clothes. 52:28 Surely, this must be the baby the angel spoke about. 52:31 And if so He must be the promised Savior, 52:35 Christ, the Lord." 52:36 Isn't that beautiful story? Absolutely incredible story. 52:40 We'll never understand it on this earth. 52:42 The Bible says "I have not seen nor ear heard, 52:45 neither has it entered into the heart of man 52:48 the things that God has prepared." 52:50 So when you go outside, 52:52 Trinity, you got a beautiful horse, right. 52:54 Yeah. What's his name? 52:55 Bert. Bert. Okay. 52:57 And your love Bert, right? I do. 52:58 And as beautiful as he is, 53:01 the horses is in heaven will be more beautiful, you know. 53:05 And when we look around and we see that the mountains, 53:07 and the skies, and lakes, and the trees, 53:10 as beautiful as these things are to us, 53:13 they've all been through 2,000 years of sin. 53:16 As beautiful as the creatures are, 53:18 they've all been through 2,000 years of sin. 53:21 Guess what, I'll even be better looking in heaven, right. 53:24 Don't laugh, so will you, right. 53:26 And you too at home. 53:27 You'll even be better looking in heaven. 53:29 Because we've all been through 2,000 years of sin. 53:34 But if we could right now get a glimpse of heaven, 53:38 for what it looks like, Ellen White had a dream 53:40 and she dreamed that she went to heaven and-- 53:43 saw on "Pillars of Our Faith," songs one of the songs. 53:46 But she said when she came back down 53:50 and got a let her come back down to this earth, 53:52 she showed her a glimpse of heaven, 53:54 she said the earth seemed so cold and dark and dreary. 53:59 She didn't realize that before 54:01 she thought it was so wonderful. 54:02 Yeah, yeah. 54:03 But she comes here and she says. "Wow. 54:07 Heaven is beyond our wildest imaginations, 54:10 our wildest dreams." 54:12 And that's what I want for each and every one of you guys. 54:15 Don't want to call you kids 54:16 because you're all young men and young ladies now. 54:18 I've seen you grow up from babies. You know. 54:21 But you're all young men and young women 54:22 and I'm really proud of you. 54:24 If I can use that term in a Christian sense, 54:28 I'm happy, I'm pleased 54:29 that God is using each and every one of you. 54:32 Are any of your perfect. No. Are we perfect? 54:35 Are you at home perfect? No, you're not. 54:37 But God is using you. 54:39 He has something special, something great. 54:41 There's a reason that you were born 54:43 in these closing moments of earth's history. 54:46 So when Jesus was hanging on the cross, 54:48 He could see you. 54:50 He could look down the stream of time 54:52 and see that you would be one of those willing 54:54 to give your lives unto death if necessary. 54:56 You are the last generation on planet earth. 54:59 I'm convinced of that. 55:00 And so I'm so thankful that you all have-- 55:03 we have a Christian school, 55:04 you're getting Christian education 55:06 and you're making good choices 55:07 because life on this earth is all about choices. 55:10 If I make bad choices, 55:12 I don't care what I call myself, 55:13 Christian, I can call myself, 55:15 I can praise the Lord, do all I want, 55:16 I will reap what I sow. 55:18 So you all remember that and decisions that you make 55:21 that we all reap what we sow. 55:23 I'm gonna ask you, Miss Yvonne, if you would say a prayer 55:25 and then we're gonna have may be John he agreed to stay. 55:28 And may be we could sing a song together. 55:31 Oh, that would be great. Sure. All right. 55:34 Father God, we just thank You so much 55:35 that You sent Your Son Jesus 55:37 to be with us here on this earth. 55:40 And we thank You so much that one day 55:42 we'll be able to be with You for ever 55:45 and now I just ask You to bless 55:47 each and every one of these lovely children here 55:50 and Danny and all of us, Lord God. 55:52 Help us to be more like You. 55:54 Thank You for hearing this prayer. In Jesus' name. 55:57 Amen. Amen. 55:59 Well, we have just a few seconds left at this time 56:02 I want to talk to the folks at home. 56:04 And just say thank you so much for what you are doing 56:08 for the cause of God on this earth. 56:09 Thank you for what you do for your love and your prayers 56:12 and your financial support of 3ABN. 56:14 Without you, we could not be taken 56:16 this gospel of the kingdom into all the world. 56:20 The Christmas season is over very quick 56:22 and we're back to the business 56:24 of trying to get the gospel into all the world. 56:26 It's a partnership. It's a team. 56:28 So thank you, for joining our team together 56:31 as we find out the blessing is on the go. 56:35 Hey, let's go over and sing with John. 56:37 Do you want to? Yeah, sure. 56:48 Oh, come, all ye faithful 56:53 Joyful and triumphant 56:57 Oh, come ye 56:59 Oh, come ye to Bethlehem 57:06 Come and behold Him 57:10 Born the King of angels 57:14 Oh, come, let us adore Him 57:18 Oh, come, let us adore Him 57:23 Oh, come, let us adore Him 57:29 Christ, the Lord |
Revised 2023-12-19