SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday; the first working day of 2011! A lucky few will remain at home enjoying the last of the season because the holiday again fell on the weekend, but most working stiffs will have to wearily get up and get out to face the working world for yet another year. Thus it is very necessary for us to rise up strong and victoriously sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Yes mih people! And some of us had more than two days off, so we should be more than ready to go out and engage the foe in a fight to the death. Now Friends, in keeping with our resolution that 2011 will be a better year than 2010, let’s write it deep in our hearts, souls and minds, then let’s look steadfastly to that outcome with all the faith we can muster, for it won’t happen unless we see it through the eyes of faith. Remember, our winning ticket is that faith, that ultimate belief that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will eventually overcome that evil fool Beelzebub. As somebody once said, they’d read the Good Book, read how it ends in Revelation, with Jesus as the majestic winner, so we need not worry about the end result, just resist the frustrations and temptations of the evil one until that time. Wow! And Friends, knowing that it ends in our favour, ought to give us a healthy jumpstart in our walk of faith with Jesus. That brings us to our Bit: ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.’ Oh people, that’s possibly the greatest promise in the Old Testament… no, in the entire Good Book, since the New Testament is basically a fulfillment of the latter half of that promise. Our God promised the disobedient remnant of the captive children of Israel that one day, when they had learned their lesson and returned to righteousness in His Name, they would return to the land of their fathers and He would do a great thing. As he said to Jeremiah: ‘Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him (enslave them).’ (Jer.30:7-8) And all God’s people shouted in unison: ‘Praise the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised!’ And isn’t that the gospel truth mih breddren! For in the midst of Israel’s trouble, their captivity, He promised to restore the Promised Land to them, and to break the yoke of slavery and bondage that their enemies had over them. And Friends, He did just that: Ezra, Nehemiah and others returned from captivity in Babylon during the Persian reign, and began rebuilding Jerusalem, obviously with the Lord’s intervention, that’s why Cyrus, the Persian king was so generous. Hear him: ‘Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house (temple) at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.’ (Ezra 1:2-3) Now why would a heathen king make such a highly dramatic proclamation if the Lord had not moved his heart eh, the same way he hardened Pharaoh’s heart when they were in bondage in Egypt? Oh Friends, what a great God we worship! A God who makes promises long before they are to happen, then steadfastly keeps them at the appointed right time. All I can say to that is Wow! And on that note of wonder, we’ll end today, hopefully with God’s grace to continue it tomorrow, for there’s a lot of scripture yet to be written in our hearts. Yes mih people, the Spirit was at His adrenalin sparking best today! (smile) So till we meet again, please go safely with the Most High God Jehovah as your guide, protector and provider. Much LOVE!…our God is a good God…just wait patiently on Him…and He will show you His goodness and mercy…that’s not hearsay…but my personal testimony this Christmas season…

Oh Friends, it’s the second day of 2011! How are we feeling today after all the New Year’s celebrations eh? I know that many of us are feeling lousy from all the partying, the numerous libations we imbibed and the mountains of food we consumed. And it’s such a lousy feeling that we’ve faithfully promised ourselves not to let it happen again… until the next time that is. (smile)  Because like so many other promises we make, in time we’ll forget the terrible hangover and hurting stomach and do it again, and once more pay the awful price, for too many of us simply don’t learn from our mistakes. We become greedy and gluttonous, just like the fourth group of sinners that Agur the sage refers to in our Bit: ‘There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.’ Yes Friends, those are the greedy, the warmongers, the oppressors and suppressors, the purveyors of violence, who delight in taking advantage of others. Job says it well: ‘I was a father to the poor: and the cause (case) which I knew not I searched out (investigated). And I brake the jaws (fangs) of the wicked, and plucked the spoil (prey) out of his teeth.’ (Job 29:16-17) Oh my people, that’s how we believers ought to act in these evil and ungodly times!  We need to stand up against those who hunger and thirst for earthly wealth and power, and in their great desire, rob and steal and exploit their fellow man, taking away what little the poor folks have, often by illicit and illegal means, thus condemning them to an even poorer state. Oh Friends, the poor and righteous suffer at the hands of the wicked and venomous every day, right in front of us, and like the story of the Good Samaritan says, we either pass by on the other side or cast an impersonal glance, then go on our way, without even trying to help. But sadly my people, that’s not the Christian way. It certainly was never Christ’s way. Jesus was never too busy or otherwise preoccupied to help, especially the sick, the poor and needy, and if we’re to be a genuine reflection of Him, then we ought to make time to do the same. And it’s not like we don’t know that if we allow free rain to the greedy, wicked, shark-like predators disguised as humans, that they will gleefully swallow up as much as they can get their evil talons on without batting an eyelash. And remember too, that our resolution for this year of 2011 is to improve the sorry state of our world, which unfortunately we can’t do without standing up to the oppressors, and also helping those in need. And let’s not fool ourselves Friends by thinking that we’re secure in our little middle class world, for when the carnivores are done with the poor, their next target will be the one lowest on the totem pole, which will be the middle class, where most of us comfortably reside. In fact they’ve already started in on the middleclass, with higher taxes and higher cost of living, loss of jobs and wage roll backs. So standing up to the wicked oppressors is not simply an altruistic exercise, but also one of self-preservation. As Bruh David cautioned the prideful wicked. ‘Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs (plans destruction); like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.’ (Ps.52:2-3) Yes Friends, that’s the nature of the beast we’re dealing with; forever hungry and rapacious, only thinking of their evil selves and ambitions. This brings us to an interesting question asked by Bruh David in his song on the foolishness of men: ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.’ (Ps.14:4)The answer to that must be an obvious NO! Oh mih breddren, listen to how Amos puts it nuh: ‘Hear this, O ye that swallow up (or trample on) the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail., Saying When will the new moon be gone (past), that we may sell corn (grain)? And the Sabbath, that we may set forth (trade) wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes (sandals); yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat (the bad wheat)?’ (Amos 8:4-6) My people that sounds just like what’s happening in our world today! The days of plenty are behind us, and the racketeers have made the portions smaller, but increased the price with unfair weights and measures, also selling unwholesome food, while people are pawning their earthly treasures at ridiculously low prices just to live, since they have no jobs. It’s time we believers actually stepped up to the plate and did something concrete about all the cruelty and criminality that now reigns in our world, instead of simply talking about it, for without action, talk is useless. And Christ’s ministry always was, is and will be one of ACTION! Friends, we’ve got to plead wholeheartedly with the Lord as Bruh David did: ‘Break (away) their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. Let them melt (flow) away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.’ (Ps.58:5-7) And while we’re waiting for God to do His part, my brethren, we have to do ours, to break the strangle hold that Lucifer and his evil minions have on our world. Let’s get ready for a long, arduous struggle, if we’re serious about reclaiming our world, for the enemy won’t give it up easily. That’s for sure! Much LOVE!…fighting for Jesus is never easy…but the rewards sure are worth it…

 HAPPY  NEW  YEAR!

Oh Friends it’s 2011! And a Happy New Year to you all! Hope we didn’t overdo the partying and are now paying the price. (smile) Anyway, our world has experienced a rough 2010, let’s hope that 2011 will bring more positive occurrences and a truly happy year. The unfortunate fact though is that nothing will change unless we change it. If we keep on living the same ungodly, evil lives, then the results will be the same, even worse. So let’s begin the year with an interesting, exciting quote, attributed to Alicia McKenzie Swain. And it says: ‘Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.’ Oh my people, those aren’t only very beautiful words, but also very true ones! The big towering oak doesn’t need special courage to withstand the storms of life, simply because it is big and towering. However the small, fragile bud that dares to open in the cold, snowy weather does need a whole heap of courage to do something so drastic, since it’s not really built to withstand those weather conditions. And in light of the crazy, violent, wicked, corrupt world in which we currently live, it is going to take a lot of courage on our part to bring about any worthwhile changes, especially when those in power seem to like the status quo, and even prefer that we become more ungodly and evil. But please remember, as believers, we can do anything through the workings of Almighty God. But we have to develop that courage like the blossom daring to open in the snow. Shall we make that our 2011 New Year’s resolution?  And all God’s people shouted in unison: ‘Yes!’ (smile) So that’s settled; for 2011 all believers have resolved to improve their courage and make sure that our world experiences a better year than the last. And Jesus smiled and proudly raised a fist at His people’s intent, to retake the world in His Name. Wow! And there’s no better way to do so than by checking out our Bit. ‘There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up (lifted up in arrogance).’ Sadly, too many of us know that fact personally, and yesterday we saw what’s in the offing for those who portray a life of arrogance and pride before the Lord God Jehovah; harsh punishment leading to eternal separation from Him. And the Lord forbid, that’s the worse possible thing that could ever happen to a human being. So how do we change, and or counteract that unwise attitude? Here are two of the best examples: The first is based on Bruh David’s words, as he talks of humility before the Lord: ‘Lord, my heart is not haughty (proud), nor mine eyes lofty (conceited): neither do I exercise (concern) myself in great matters, or in things too high for me (too difficult or profound). Surely I have behaved (calmed) and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned chid. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and forever.’ (Ps.131:1-3) Oh Friends, as the scholars so rightly declare, that’s an intensely personal song of humility, expressing Bruh David’s declaration of humility, trust and call for hope. That’s certainly more like how we ought to behave.  Now here’s the crowning glory my people, found in Bruh Paul’s missive to the Philippians, re Christ’s humility. He begins by setting them on the right path: ‘Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same LOVE, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but also every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil.2:2-11) Oh my people, we obviously can’t be perfect like Jesus, but there’s nothing that says we can’t try to come up as high as we can, and besides, that’s exactly what Jesus expects of His followers. So please, I implore us not to let Him down, for He’s depending wholeheartedly on us. Much LOVE!…remember our 2011 resolve…to grow in courage…and to improve our world…in Jesus’ Name…Amen…

Oh Friends, it’s Monday! A lucky day for some who have it off, because Christmas and Boxing Days fell on the weekend, but not so lucky for many who have to go back out and labour today. That means we still need to sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s get right to it: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And in light of what we just prayed, I believe we have a very suitable Bit, taken from Bruh David’s prayer for deliverance from evil men. ‘Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings (to make my steps stumble).’ And believe me Friends, there are many such people in our world. I’ve never been one to think evil of people, possibly because of my naivety (smile) and my upbringing, but sadly my brethren, over the last few years my eyes have truly been opened to the magnitude of wickedness and evil in our world, and often right below our unsuspecting noses. Thankfully, I still haven’t been undone by evil people. Although a few have betrayed me, none of them, for your information, have prospered more than me, neither materially nor spiritually. Praise be to a Most Faithful God! And since I’ve been writing this Bit, my faith and trust in the Most High has certainly increased.  This has helped me to put those betrayals behind me, and still not look for deception in every nook and cranny. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been all wine and roses, but through the Lord’s great mercies, I have been saved several times from hitting rock bottom. And though there might be deception in and around us Friends, we can’t allow ourselves to focus on that, but rather be careful of whom you allow into your inner circle and concentrate on the good that God has in store for us. If we pay too much attention to darkness, or look for wickedness and deceit everywhere, we’ll just end up going nowhere, doing nothing worthwhile and thus producing no good fruit for the kingdom. Oh my people, the Lord has faithfully promised never to leave or forsake us, and if we have sincerely believed in His Word, then there’s no need to go around constantly seeking darkness in the light. Suffice it to know that darkness does exist, and occasionally it will try to overshadow our light. But then again, since light is stronger than darkness, and you can’t have shadows without light, we ought not to dwell on the evil that exists, but on the good that both surpasses and suppresses it. Remember too that our minds are God’s greatest invention, and what we think on, is usually what we become. Oh my brethren, when the forces of evil do come against us, we need to always turn to God first, and like the psalmist who cried for help in his old age, possibly plead: ‘Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up (upheld from birth) from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels (womb): my praise shall be continually of thee.’ (Ps.71:4-6) Yes Friends, let us not be afraid of the evil doers or of their evil ways, because as our Leader and Saviour, Jesus Christ has boldly and truthfully proclaimed: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) That’s gospel mih Friends, so please keep on standing strong and steadfast in the Lord Jesus, and don’t let the enemy frighten you, for once you have Christ’s mark on you, you’re untouchable. Much LOVE!…oh believers…let the light of Jesus in you…brightly shine forth…into a dark and evil world…that’s our mandate…

Oh Friends, the BIG DAY is over now! But please note that the Christmas Season is not, so let’s continue to portray and put into action those sentiments that the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born: ‘PEACE ON EARTH; AND GOODWILL TO MEN!’ Oh mih people, those words evoke such a powerful and godly inclination that our world would instantly turn into a paradise if more of humanity followed them. And yuh know, if only the majority of Christians applied it, our earth would still be much improved, since we Christians talk a good talk but too often don’t follow it up with the necessary action. And here’s a recent example of that. I heard of these believers going to one family’s home after church on a Sunday morning for brunch. In that group, there was one man apparently deeply indebted emotionally to the older homeowner for their Christian support during a rough time of grief, when his wife passed away. Now some disagreement arose between both men over some innocuous matter, and my talebearer (smile) was most shocked at the manner in which the younger man berated the older one, in front of all their church companions, so soon after church. Obviously that soured the gathering to some extent and could not be construed as peace and goodwill either. Here’s an even more telling example. My local church building houses three different denominations with relations not the best between them, mostly because of monetary matters. But in any case, on a Sunday morning when I’m leaving, another denomination is coming in, and would you believe that many of them pass me by with a stone face, not even a smile or a good morning greeting. I guess I’m also guilty of not engaging them in a friendly Christian manner. Oh mih breddren, what ever happened to 3 Canal’s engaging dictum eh: ‘Morning Neighbuh, morning?’ (smile) But unfortunately Friends, it’s those kinds of things that unbelievers see and hear about that turns them off of the Christian experience. And you really can’t blame them if believers in the same ONE, TRUE, GREAT GOD can’t at least be civil to each other. No wonder the enemy is busy, successfully removing our God from our lives bit by bit, because instead of fighting the evil enemy, we’re fighting our supposed brothers and sisters in Christ. What a crying shame my brethren! That only belittles the Church of Christ and paints everybody with a tar brush. Anyway, enough negative talk this Boxing Day, let’s get positive. So Friends, how was your Christmas Day? I sincerely hope it was most excellent, and that whatever gathering you were a part of had a good time, and Christ was included in some form and fashion. I must say that mine was quiet but excellent, with only close family members. The highlight of my day though was that my ole mother surprised me by showing up at my humble abode in all her arthritic splendour (smile) after insisting that she was not leaving her own home. And I wasn’t happy so much on my account, but for her and her care-giver; that they didn’t have to spend Christmas Day in the little two be four apartment and not actively participate in the seasonal joy and fun-filled fellowship with the rest of the family. Thank you Lord for that! But those of you who know the old girl, know that she can be very stubborn when she feels so inclined. I guess some of her reluctance to go out nowadays is basically due to a combination of shame and pride she wrongly feels because she is wheelchair bound and can’t manage most of her own affairs. But that’s an unfortunate human trait. And Friends, would you believe that the Spirit was also in cahoots with my family on this matter. (smile) I say that because in the afternoon I kept phoning my mother’s place to read the usual prayers for her, but couldn’t get an answer. Obviously I began to get concerned since she never said she was going out, and I almost got into an argument with my family over it when they began making what I considered simplistic excuses. I knew that my younger daughter and her boyfriend had gone out, but I figured it was to visit their own friends. I never even considered the possibility that they had gone to get her, since she had been so adamant about not leaving home. And it wasn’t until I heard some commotion in my driveway that the Spirit finally enlightened me as to what was happening. One moment I heard the noise, and then suddenly, in the next, I received the brainwave. That’s why I can truly say this Christmas Day of 2010: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.’ He truly showered my family with blessings on this anniversary of His Son’s Birth! Oh my people, I also hope that all of you were blessed in some special way this Christmas Day of 2010. And even if we weren’t, please don’t lose hope, faith and trust in Almighty God, for the world might not be fair, but it’s an unassailable fact that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob IS GOOD! We don’t, and won’t always understand His complicated chess moves, but whatever He does is always in the long-term best interest of His children. So please stand strong and true under His righteous wings, and He will surely see you through. Much LOVE!…whoever sacrifices their only son…especially for undeserving, ungrateful others…must have a big heart…full of LOVE…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 Oh Friends, it’s CHRISTMAS DAY! That fateful day when Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour was born in Bethlehem of Judea, some two thousand years ago! Wow! Thank you Father God for sending your Son to earth to save us. There’s never been a greater act of LOVE in man’s history, and for that we’re eternally grateful. Ah Friends, our Bit plays out Jesus’ birth as something simple and down to earth: ‘And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger (feed trough); because there was no room for them in the inn.’ But I believe that in reality it wasn’t that simple at all. Now see if you can picture this scene. I don’t know how this will turn out, but it’s where the Spirit led me. It’s a cold but cloudless and bright starry night in Judea: ‘Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright.’ In the sleepy town of Bethlehem it’s even more peaceful. ‘O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.’ So Jesus is born in this rough and crude stable and laid in a feed trough because there’s no room for his family in the local inn. ‘Away in the manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.’  And around the hills and valleys of Bruh David’s city, shepherds are guarding their sheep, bundled up against the bone chilling cold, when all of a sudden an angel, with God’s glory shining all around him, appears out of nowhere and startles them. This unexpected state of affairs obviously frightens the poor shepherds. ‘The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star, Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night.’ The angel tells the shepherds where to find the baby, but before they could do anything, from out of nowhere again, a host of heavenly angels appear, the greatest choir ever assembled, and they begin singing and praising God. ‘Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King!’ Obviously after all this surprising pandemonium, the shepherds, with typical human inquisitiveness, decide to go and check out this baby Jesus that the Lord had seen fit to tell them about. So they hustle over to Bethlehem proper, and just as the angel said, they found Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger. They paid their respects then went around spreading the good news, re what the angels had told them and they had seen – wish we could get some gossips to spread the good news today. (smile) Then the shepherds go back to their lonely jobs, but now in great spirits, thanking and praising God for all that they’d experienced. ‘Angels we have heard on high, Singing sweetly through the night, And the mountains in reply, Echoing their brave delight. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.’ Oh Friends, the story gets better as the night rolls on, but I’m going to use a bit of poetic license here because the gospels are a bit confusing. Luke tells of the shepherds, but not the wise men, while Matthew tells of the wise men but not the shepherds, and most likely the two events didn’t occur on the same night, since Matthew says that the wise men entered a house. (Matt.2:11) However to enlarge the grandeur of the scene, I’ll put both episodes together.  So now it’s later on in the evening, and even more activity is happening in normally staid, quiet Bethlehem. That’s because three kings from the East, possibly descendants of Jewish captives in Babylon, because they know the scriptures and came to Jerusalem searching for this new-born King of the Jews, whom the unconcerned Jewish elite directed to Bethlehem. But Herod the king paid attention, telling them to come back and let him know where they found the baby. These kings had followed a big, bright cross-shaped star from way back home, and after leaving Jerusalem, the star was still before them. ‘We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect Light.’ And yuh know what mih people? ‘This star drew nigh to the northwest, O’er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.’ And all God’s people said ‘Wow!’ Imagine the commotion around this old stable in quiet Bethlehem nuh with the camels and the entourages of these men. Then the three magnificently dressed men, long flowing robes and beards, jewel encrusted scimitars and daggers by their sides, enter this lowly stable. Probably never entered such a lowly place before, but they leave their egos outside.  And in all this commotion what happens? ‘The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.’ Yes friends, even at birth Jesus was aware of His royal heritage and how to behave. ‘Then entered in those wise men three, Full reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence, Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.’ These three powerful men prostrate themselves before Baby Jesus and offer Him symbolic gifts: Gold, because only the earth’s most valuable asset would do for such a mighty monarch. Frankincense, an incense like resin, akin to the stuff burned in the temple before God, because He was Deity. And the myrrh, used for anointing bodies before burial, to symbolize His epic death, some three decades later. Meanwhile, poor Mary and Joseph are sitting around the feed trough in which their godly Son lies, overwhelmed by all the hoopla, just kindly accepting the gifts and glad tidings from all who came to pay their respects. The Good Book says though: ‘But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ (Luke 2:19) Wise woman, that Mary! Oh Friends, I forgot to mention that throughout the entire event the heavenly choir was outside rocking up a storm of sweet music. Tunes like: ‘O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, Born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.’ And it wasn’t earth alone rocking nuh mih people; they were having a merry ole time in heaven too. Rocking to stuff like: ‘Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her king; Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.’  And Friends, the parties, both in heaven and on earth, went on until the morning light, until the daytime star arose in the east. (smile) Never before, or again, was there ever such a splendiferous night! Wow! And all God’s people wept with joy, then belted out in song: ‘Then let us all with one accord, sing praises to our heavenly Lord; That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with His blood mankind hath bought. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. ‘ Oh Friends, I sure hope the Christmas story was interesting, for I had a lot of fun writing it. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy New Year. Don’t overdo the eating and drinking, and find some time to get Christ involved. Much LOVE!…peace on earth…goodwill to all…those are the sentiments of the season…