Smoke Signals 2

GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING!

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Cross-Posted at Smoke Signals Blog

From the book of Luke, verses 1 through 16

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14″Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

So often today, we are caught up in all the commercial aspects of the season, buying gifts, making sure that we have enough lights on the house, putting up the tree, cooking, and so on. Yet, few people ever stop to really think about why we even have Christmas, and I know it’s not the literal date on which Jesus was born. There are those who have never heard about HIM and need to. People today are living in the dark, yet we, as Christians, have such a wonderful light we could give them. You see, about 2000 years ago, a tiny little boy was born in a barn and laid in a manger. His mother was a virgin and in those times for an unwed girl to be pregnant meant she would be cast out of society, yet her betrothed, Joseph, still married her and raised her son as his own. That boy grew and eventually ministered more in just 3 years than most of us can in a lifetime, before dying for the sins of all mankind, and then rising from the grave 3 days later. You see, when he died on the cross, he became a sacrifice for all of our sins, and then when he rose on the 3rd day, he provided for us that death is not the end. You see, HE wants you to have a relationship with him, and he wants to forgive EVERY SIN you’ve ever comitted, all you need to do is ask and he will.

So, tomorrow when you are with your family and the food is being served, and presents are passed out, don’t forget why we are really celebrating, the REAL gift was given on that night in the barn and laid in a manger.

Merry Christmas and GOD BLESS!

Cross posted at Smoke Signals Blog

This poem has been around for a little while, and has made the rounds on various blogs and other web pages, but it has lost none of it’s power to move me almost to tears. As we prepare for all the fun that comes each year at Christmas, America’s military Men and Women are far from home in many cases, and just as we would, they DO miss their families and friends. Now, I know that it isn’t “popular” to be for the GWOT and all, but these men and women are doing what MUST be done to keep our country safe, and I really don’t care where you stand on the war issue, please DO NOT take out your animosity for the mission on those who have taken it up. These are the finest that America has to offer, and if they don’t take this cause up now, then Americans WILL see another 9/11, and it WILL be worse. To those who are fighting right now for my family, my friends, and for me, I can NEVER adequetly put into words my feelings, but I will say simply THANK YOU, God Bless You, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

©Copyright circa 1991 by James M. Schmidt
(As printers in the December 1991 issue of the USMC magazine, Leatherneck)

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H/T to Blackfive

Listen to the poem - Right click and then select “save as”

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Cross-Posted at Smoke Signals Blog

Via Ogre, from Always on Watch who received this from Papa Ray, a Christmas poem.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light.
Then he sighed and he said “Its really all right,

I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.”

“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ‘Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘Nam,’
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.

“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?”

It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Not much more to say, except I DO remember what each of our men and women in uniform does for me, my family, and my country EVERY DAY! God Bless them all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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About 2000 years ago, on a night that seemed like any other night, a young couple had just arrived in Bethlehem to be counted in the census ordered by Caesar Augustus. Joseph had brought his young bride, Mary, who was expecting her first son, though she had never known a man at that time, but was told by the angel Gabriel that her son was the Son of God and had been sent to the world to save all mankind from their sin. The first thing that happened, though, upon their arrival was that none of the inns in town had any room, but finally they were offered a stable to stay in by an innkeeper who knew they should not just be turned out into the night. Later that evening Mary knew that it was time for her son to be delivered, so she gave birth, wrapped her son in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. He was visited that night by shepherds who heard while they were watching their flocks and by three wise men from the east who followed a star to his bedside. You see, Christ was not sent to this world just for rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, black or white, man or woman, but for EVERYONE! He came that none should perish in hell, but that all of us would have the chance to live eternally with him in glory after our time on Earth was done.

Lately, it seems that some in America have decided that all notions of Christmas are “offensive”, and therefore the aclu (aka all crazy lunatics unite) has threatened (only that so far) to sue any school, city, or any other representative of any form of government for any reference to Christmas. We now see “holiday trees” at stores, and some stores are going so far as to BAN THE SALVATION ARMY from their stores. While that store has said their reason is that “they cannot allow every organization” to be there and therefore won’t allow any of them, but the funny thing is that I’ve NEVER seen any other groups fund raising at Christmas in front of stores, so who are the “other groups” that were “excluded”? Well, I’m not going to accept this (or even tolerate it) any more. I REFUSE to shop at any store which has “banned Christmas”, and I will make sure that EVERYONE I meet on campus or anywhere else will be greeted by a hearty MERRY CHRISTMAS from now on. That last one is the one that just completely defies all explanation. What is it about me saying Merry Christmas that is so offensive? I have no problem with someone saying Happy Hanukah, or any other religious or holiday greeting, so why is it that Merry Christmas is so offensive? Well, until someone can convince me (in a legit debate) why they are offended by this (and when that happens, I’LL EAT MY SHIRT!), I will NOT STOP saying MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone I meet, and I go to a state school, and I’ll be at the county offices later this week, so I may have some good stories, or if you hear someone has been arrested or sued for something along these lines, it might just be me!

Any way, to everyone out there, MERRY CHRISTMAS and may the Good Lord bless and keep you all!

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Santa’s Prayer

Why is Jesus better than Santa?

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