There was only one way the wise men could see,
The most famous star the earth has known,
‘Twas for the sky to be partly dark,
Arrayed in night’s somber tone.
– eab, 12/11/10
Archive for December, 2010
Somber Tone
Posted in Bible, christmas poems, poem, tagged Somber Tone on December 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Christmas ?
Posted in Bible, eabits, philosophy, tagged Christmas, newly born, The eternal Son on December 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
GOD’S SON WON
Posted in Bible, christmas poems, poem, uncategorized, tagged GOD’S SON WON on December 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
He came to a village, to Bethlehem, small,
Squeezed into what moderns would label a stall,
He then took a Baby’s slight, fragile, short frame,
Flesh, Jewish by nature; Divine, all the same.
Accepted that near eastern race as His own,
Born into king David’s line – records have shown,
His mother a virgin, his step-dad the man
Who labored the mutual shame to withstand.
O, what a place, what a race, for God’s own Son.
Soon Christ will appear to this world once again,
Appear all victorious over all sin,
All rebels, all kingdoms of men will have crashed,
The tares be removed – head of satan be smashed,
He comes with a trumpet sound, breaking of spheres,
Rewards will He give to those who gave Him their fears,
No Baby? Triumphant. Of ALL things the End.
The Kingdom of heaven’s still open my friend.
O, what great grace, what a Face. He will have won!
– eab, 12/10/10
Charles Dickens – Published, Dec. 19, 1843
Posted in poet British, today in history, tagged 12/19/1843, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol is still popular, And, “Bah”, “Humbug”, “Scrooge”, “With Tiny Tim’s Love”, biblical word, Boston manufacturer, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Christmas Carol, closed his factory for Christmas Day, Dickens divided his story, did not finish it until the early days of December, didn’t start until October, Ebenezer, especially in December, first name, five stanzas or what most would label chapters, for good reason – connected to, gave a turkey to each employee, given gifts to crippled children, his main character, in line with his title, known as a novella (nō vel’ lä), never gone out of print, not a Christian story, on this date, published A Christmas Carol, publishers: Chapman and Hall, Queen of Norway, readers/hearers less selfish, readily recognized words, Robert Louis Stevenson, Scrooge, Thomas Carlyle, Two fellow writers, what in literature on December 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
“Bah!” “Humbug,” and “Scrooge” are all readily recognized words anytime of year, but especially in December. And, for good reason – as they are connected to a work called A Christmas Carol.
Charles Dickens on this date, 12/19/1843, had published A Christmas Carol (publishers: Chapman and Hall), what is in literature known as a novella (nō vel’ lä). One source says he didn’t start it until in October of that year and did not finish it until the early days of December. Dickens divided his story, in line with his title, into five stanzas or what most would label chapters.
Scrooge, his main character, has a biblical word of his first name, Ebenezer. And though A Christmas Carol is not a Christian story as such, it seems to have helped make readers/hearers less selfish on and near Christmas. Two fellow writers, Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas Carlyle, both seem to have been more give to generiosity after the story appeared. Reportedly as a result of it, a Boston manufacturer closed his factory for Christmas Day and gave a turkey to each employee. Even the queen of Norway, later, is said to have given gifts to some crippled children marked “With Tiny Tim’s Love.”
A Christmas Carol is still popular and is reported to have never gone out of print.
Deceives the Deceivable
Posted in eabits, philosophy, tagged deceives many, The devil, the living on December 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The devil deceives many of the living,
The devil, if possible, also deceives the dying.
– eab, 12/18/10
A STUDENT’S LAMENT
Posted in education, poem, tagged A STUDENT'S LAMENT, Christmas Vacation, Hobe Sound Bible College, second Christmas party on December 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Christmas vacation? So soon? [1]
Now how can that be?
We are enjoying the boon,
Of school, work, and study.
Do we really have to go,
Leave themes and all that,
And go see snow,
Wear gloves and muffled hat?
Well, since you say so, O.K.
Matter of fact, that’s fine,
But this I would like to say,
We’ll hurry back for sixty – nine.
Good, God bless you, we pray
On Christmas as every day.
– eab, 12/16/68
[1] Written for our second Christmas party at Hobe Sound Bible College.
Charles Wesley – birth, Dec. 18, 1707
Posted in born today, christmas poems, converted to Christ, holy living, poet British, today in history, uncategorized, tagged 12/18/1707, 3/29/1788, 5/20/1738, about Christ’s Birth, Anglican pastor father, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”, “co-founder” of Methodism, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, between 1737 and 1742 he and John published six volumes of original hymns, born this date, Charles Wesley, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, derisively called “Methodists”, eighteenth child, Epworth Rectory England, formed the “Holy Club”, He is said to have written his last hymn his last day on earth, John’s Aldersgate experience, methodical form of piety, methodical mother, no early retirement with Charles Wesley, one of the greatest hymn writers ever born, ordained Anglican minister in 1735, penned more than 6500, radical conversion to Christ, Resurrection Lord’s Day, Samuel, Susanna, than with all due respect from John’s sermons, the Lord gave him, United Methodist hymnal had seventy-three of these poems, we know more theology from his sacred hymns, Wesleys and friends on December 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley, one of the greatest hymn writers ever born, was born this date, 12/18/1707 at Epworth Rectory, England. He became what may be called the “co-founder” of Methodism. (Anyone wishing to deny him that title remember – we know more theology from his sacred hymns than we do, with all due respect, from John’s sermons.) Charles was the eighteenth child of his Anglican pastor father, Samuel, and his methodical mother, Susanna.
The Wesleys and their friends formed the “Holy Club,” a group derisively called “Methodists” for their methodical form of piety. He was ordained an Anglican minister in 1735 but had a radical conversion to Christ 5/20/1738 three days prior to John’s Aldersgate experience. Between 1737 and 1742 he and John published six volumes of original hymns. Recently the United Methodist hymnal still had seventy-three of these poems the Lord gave him. He penned more than 6,500 in total.
Among his best-known works are “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” (Resurrection Lord’s Day), “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and the above (both about Christ’s Birth). He is said to have written his last hymn his last day on earth, 3/29/1788 – no early retirement with Charles Wesley.
What is IT hiding?
Posted in eabits, opposing wrong, philosophy, uncategorized, tagged A false floor has something under it, A false wall has something behind it, What does false religion hide, What is IT hiding? on December 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »
A false floor has something under it.
A false wall has something behind it.
What does false religion hide?
– eab, 11/13/10
EVERGREEN
Posted in christmas poems, nature, poem, uncategorized, tagged EVERGREEN on December 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Its symmetrical shape points toward the sky
Like no other.
And that could be one reason why,
We would rather,
Use it for our Christmas-time tree.
It points toward God, you see.
Its needles are always the same color
The year ’round.
Not affected by the changing weather.
It might be found,
That this would be good for you and me,
To be as changeless, as we could be.
It looks in March as it did in June.
Little age shows.
And its essence won’t be changing soon,
If no foes.
It’s an example to be seen free,
That gives us a glimpse of Eternity.
– eab, 12/65
John Samuel Norris – birth, Dec. 4,1844
Posted in born today, Canada, today in history, tagged 12/4/1844, born this date, Chicago, Congregationalist, hymn tune entitled NORRIS, I Can Hear My Savior Calling, Iowa, Isle of Wight England, John Samuel Norris, moved to and was educated in Canada, New York, Norris died 9/23/1907, ordained in 1868, served churches in Canada, West Cowes, Where He Leads Me I Will Follow, Wisconsin on December 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
“Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.”
Refrain
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow;
I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.
I’ll go with Him through the garden,
I’ll go with Him through the garden,
I’ll go with Him through the garden,
I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.
I’ll go with Him through the judgment,
I’ll go with Him through the judgment,
I’ll go with Him through the judgment,
I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.
He will give me grace and glory,
He will give me grace and glory,
He will give me grace and glory,
And go with me, with me all the way.
John Samuel Norris was born this date, 12/4/1844, at West Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. He was a Congregationalist who moved to and was educated in Canada. Norris was ordained in 1868 and served churches in Canada, New York, Wisconsin, and Iowa. He wrote more than 100 hymns but is possibly best remembered for his hymn tune entitled NORRIS – “I Can Hear My Savior Calling,” a.k.a. “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow.” Norris died 9/23/1907 in Chicago.
Separate-Holy 