Word

A Month from Matthew – 18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  7.18

[ Please Note this is as relevant today as when Jesus said it! ]

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Old poem/card

CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS CRUCIFIED (18^th card)

Mary, the carpenter’s wife,

Has been delivered of a Man child.

She conceived and then bore,

Heaven’s Seed and remained undefiled.

She gave birth in a peasant “home”

Of linage Royal and old.

Bearing her reproach she thus gave,

Divinity a fine human mold.

 

He came, He loved, He cried,

He walked by the azure sea side.

He cared, He worked,

He sought those who had never been taught.

He touched, He scattered, He plead.

The Holy Scriptures He read.

He stood, He bore, He died.

The Christ of Christmas, crucified.

– eab, Dec. ’82

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Eh?

What one thing, if dropped from your life,

would change:

conversation,

calendar, and

checkbook?

Is that your god?

– eab 12/2008

 

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SWINGING SPHERES

Little perfect balls on a large scaly tree,

You make me wonder if you have a message for me.

I am curious why, you are suspended there,

Between earth and sky.  Just for seed?

 

Do you bear a report?  Do you have a word,

From another world that should be heard?

Maybe another time, in another place,

That message I can find.  It will be freed. 

– eab, Dec. ’65

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Charles Wesley – born

 

ON THIS DATE

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 th’ angelic host proclaim,  “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”  

Hark! the herald angels sing,  “Glory to the new born King!”

Charles Wesley was born 12/18/1707 at the Epworth Rectory in England.  He was the eighteenth 18^th child (born 18^th was 18^th 🙂 ) of Anglican pastor Samuel.  Charles & his older brother John formed the “Holy Club” (Charles was more responsible than John for Whitfield’s conversion).  The group was derisively dubbed “Methodists” for methodical forms of personal piety.  Charles underwent a spiritual conversion 5/20/1738. Between 1737 and 1742 he & John published six volumes of original hymns.  He penned more than 6,500 hymns. He died 3/29/1788.

 

His “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” obviously fits Resurrection morning. His “And Can It Be?” “O for a Thousand Tongues,” “Love Divine All Loves Excelling,” “A Charge to Keep I Have,” and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” fit any day. But this time of year we love to sing his, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

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