| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3115 Registered: 3-2004  |
I am starting early to wish all of you a Blessed Christ filled Christmas. For Christmas this year I would like everyone to have God's peace in their soul and life and to know that Jesus is your salvation. Have a Very Merry Christmas and may the New Year find you closer to Jesus. Thank you God for all the folks who post here and those who lurk. May each of them know Jesus and find that He is all each of us needs. You are so AWESOME. Diana | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 375 Registered: 4-2006  |
 thanks Diana! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas as well, may the Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, lead and guide each of your steps, may your mind be the mind of Christ. Amen. I want to join the chorus, yes God you are indeed AWESOME! In Christ | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 769 Registered: 7-2004 |
If any of you have the chance to see "The Nativity Story" in the next few weeks, I highly recommend it. My daughter and I saw it this weekend and we both loved it. It takes the fairy tale part of the story of Jesus' birth and puts it right into the reality of the day. I was not the only one moved to tears as I heard many sniffles. The theater was absolutely silent for several minutes after the movie was over. I wanted to shout, "WE HAVE A SAVIOR!" What a remarkable reality to hold onto. May you all experience His reality during this special season and all year long. Denise | ||
| Susans Registered user Username: Susans Post Number: 231 Registered: 8-2006 |
Denise, I wanted to see this film, but did not get a chance over the weekend. I will definitely make time to go, then. It looked as thought it might be faithful to the biblical account. May we all remember the reason for this Christmas season, that God became incarnate in order to save all those who receive Him and believe on His name. Thank you Jesus, for loving us enough to become a man and to live, and die, for us. Susan | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2380 Registered: 3-2005 |
Here is one of the most inspiring newer Christmas songs I have ever heard, and this one is recorded by Selah, and it is called "The Rose of Bethlehem": "A child was born on Christmas day Born to save the world But long before the world began He knew His death was sure The pain and strife secured" Mystery, how He came to be a man But greater still How His death was in His plan God predestined that His Son would die And He still created man Oh, what love is this That His death was in His hands. The Christmas trees They glow so bright With presents all around But Christmas brought A tree of life With blood that sacrificed The greatest gift in life. Mystery, how He came to be a man But greater still How His death was in His plan God predestined that His Son would die And He still created man Oh, what love is this That His death was in His hands. I am just a man and Can't begin to comprehend When You look into this traitor's eyes what do You see that justifies the Lamb. God predestined that His Son would die And He still created man Oh, what love is this That His death was in His plan Mystery, mystery. A blessed Christmas season to all! Stan | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 408 Registered: 4-2006 |
Thanks for the song Stan, it is going around the world! Jesus you are so awesome, I love you! | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 251 Registered: 9-2006  |
On Christmas Eve 1914 as the war raged on in what became known as trench warfare British and Germans alike laid aside their weapons and held a small unauthorized truce that lasted through Christmas day of that year, men met between the trenches and exchanged bits of food and so forth. In 1861 it is recorded that soldiers faced each other over dirt and log berms and as darkness came on it would be a waste of ammo to shoot so as the solders with the blue and the grey faced off it is said that one evening a southerner yelled over to the Yankee side ìHey yank ye got any baccy?î and that started a little unauthorized fraternization with the enemy as they traded in between the bunkers and berms. This Christmas I would like to spend some time praying for the soldiers of our nation. I pray that men would lay aside war and animosity toward one another. I pray for the peace of Israel. I pray for my friends on the forum. Merry Christmas. River | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3173 Registered: 3-2004 |
River, I have read various stories of Christmas during the various wars. Like you I pray for our military where ever they are. I have a special reason. My son is active duty Air Force at this time. So, I too, pray for peace and putting war aside and peace for all nations. This is in addition to the prayers I have for all those on the forum and on our prayer list. Again, I pray all of you have a God filled Merry Christmas. Diana | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 650 Registered: 10-2002  |
Thanks, everyone, for everything said here. You all are awesome and your hearts are pictures of God to me. River, I read a book called "Silent Night" about the 1914 Christmas truce. It was an astounding occurance. They started Christmas eve, and it continued in many places all the way through Christmas and Boxing Day as well. The better part of Christmas day, however, was spent burying the dead who had been lying in "no-man's land" between the trenches for so long. Probably the thing that shocked me the most was how the war was "re-started" after the truce. Many soldiers on both sides had a hard time shooting at the people they had just talked to, posed in pictures with, traded cigars and beer with, etc. Many commanders had to force them to start killing one another. Some soldiers were threatned with corporal punishment because they protested, "They're good people!" about their "enemies". Maybe the main reason that the war was able to re-start was that fresh units were brought from further behind the lines -- people who had not experienced the "fraternization", and who would still have the war posters & propaganda in their minds, instead of a fresh up-close look at the people they had drank with the day before. It's such an awesome, tragic, and yet challenging event. It is awesome the way the horror stopped, the way bonds quickly formed, in short, the way that the mere memory of Christ's birth inspired people to look at one another as humans instead of in-human foes that must be defeated. And it is tragic because it was "necessary" to continue the war, because the whole business truly couldn't be settled over a game of poker. It was tragic that people in positions of power were angry about the truce, that they prevented it from re-occurring in 1915 and ever after, that they later tried to stop the publication of the event for fear it would damage the "war effort" at home. It's tragic and it is sick. And last of all, the 1914 truce is challenging, a direct statement, a call from God in history to us today, telling us to look at people as people, to get up out of our trenches and make peace with one another, to not let ourselves be manipulated by higher authorities, to truly see each other as Christ saw each of us, not only crossing "no-man's land" to come to earth, but even becoming one of us and dying for us, so that we may "fraternize" with Him and Father and all the hosts of holy heaven. I'm challenged by it, and I'm moved. Bless you all, and peace to you this season. Ramone | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 413 Registered: 4-2006 |
I have a song about that truce on one of my Christmas albums .. nice to get to hear your thoughts on the issue. Jesus you are wonderful! | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 414 Registered: 4-2006 |
Stan, I got to responses on the song you posted, both from to former adventists, they did not like it, you see they have been talking a lot with Jehovas Witnesses and do not like Christmas, they argue that it has taken with other holidays the place of the sabbath ... Oh my. Have any of you guys heard that argument, spin in favor of keeping the Sabbath? | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2408 Registered: 3-2005 |
Mwh, For a person not to like that song I posted, they would have to not believe the gospel. That song speaks to the heart of Christmas if you are a Christian. Stan | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 418 Registered: 4-2006 |
They are still entrenched in the old covenant, believing that the law can be split up in Decalogue , ceremonial etc. and of course keeps the Sabbath. Of course they are former adventists, not part of the SDA-church, knows that EGW is a false prophet and that the 1844 doctrine is as false as it can be. Please pray for them. | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 657 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hey Mwh, what's the song about the truce? That sounds interesting. | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 422 Registered: 4-2006 |
Agapetos, I got a CD called "Absolute Christmas Disc 2" which contains the song "Jul I Ingenmandsland" (Christmas in no mans land), thats about the truce, but its in Danish. I'm not sure if its an original Danish work or its a translation ... The text can be found here: http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/abase/sange/sang5.htm (peace academy) The song is written by Lars Lilholt, he found sources for the song from an English book full of letters sent home by English soldiers. The front cover can be seen here: http://www.larslilholtband.dk/billeder/jul_i_ingenmandsland_low.jpg Its fantastic, I'll send this song to everyone I know who understands Danish. Lets see, I'll translate it to English today and I'll post it here Jesus lives!! | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 423 Registered: 4-2006 |
Okay here it is, a very quick translation, I would appreciate it if you guys could fix it up a bit (post it again, with the fixes) Christmas in No Man's Land It was the Christmas of 1914 during first world war On the western front, 2 gigantic armies had diged themselves down in front of each other and in some places, there was only hundred meters to the trenches of the enemy here is a letter from a private English soldier When the night comes the canons are silent we can often hear the Germans coughing, like us from the mud in the trenches especially now that it is Christmas everyone is longing for their home from each side of no man's land Christmas eve when the twilight came with frozen dew for the dead we heard the Germans singing from the holes of the grenades it sounded so beautiful and I will never forget "stille nacht" in the darkness above no man's land We clapped our hands and shouted for more "oh tandenbaum" we heard then we sang "oh come all ye fateful" and answered deeply affected we shouted "Merry Christmas" and from a German officer it sounded "hey Tommy, lets meet out in no man's land reluctantly, slowly and with a hammering pulse we laid down our arms met with the Germans, talked and smoked shared each others hoping against orders about firing we got a deal fixed aim as high as you dare above no man's land. We met again first day of Christmas buried the dead the earth was hard, frozen and kold the souls was soft It was as if we heard a voice 2000 years away from Bethlehem to Flandern in the middle of no man's land from Bethlehem to Flandern in the midle of no man's land Of course the truce couldn't last When the supreme command who sat far away from the front heard the rumors, all friendly association with the enemy was put on pair with deserting and punished by death. and before the Christmas had ended the soldiers on each side of the front, was forced to attack An attack through barbed wire and grenade holes to kill or to be killed in no man's land Oh man Jesus is awesome and oh my the Devil is bad, oh how sweet it is that we will never die, but be with you Jesus through eternity, hallelujah!!! | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 659 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thank you so much, Mwh. It's very moving. There are only a very few English errors... it is very, very good. The part about "grenade holes" ... does it mean "foxholes"? (A foxhole is a small hole that a soldier digs and takes shelter in, but not as big or long as a "trench")... or is it referring to the craters made in the ground by grenades? | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 425 Registered: 4-2006 |
I would think that it refers to the craters. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 931 Registered: 4-2000  |
Mwh, Thanks for sharing that story from the battlefield during WW I. This reveals anew how tragic and foolish war can be. Dennis Fischer |
