THE ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

TEXT:

LUKE 2: 8-20

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 

17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD - UNIQUE NATIVITY SETS

Nativity Scenes did NOT originate from the Bible, where the original Christmas story resides. It was the humble Francis of Assisi who, while living in Greccio Italy at the time (1223 AD), decided to bring the most beautiful account in Creation to the average person.

In those days, the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was only celebrated by Mass in Latin, which only the church hierarchy could understand. An obviously inspired Francis went around Greccio borrowing animals and obtaining free donations of hay. He then created a manger scene, out of the Bible passages of Mary giving birth to Lord Jesus in Bethlehem, in a stable, since there was no room in any Inn, in that small town of about 500 in Bethlehem.

After he set up the first Nativity Scene with LIVE animals and wax-figured Mary, Joseph and Jesus, Francis began telling the story of the Great Birth from the Bible and preached sermons on it. It was the first time the people understood how the Savior was born and why He came. From historical accounts, many came to Faith that night. Hymns were song and Psalms read out loud as Francis of Assisi wept openly in rejoicing.

Many in Italy heard about this first Nativity Scene of all time, and it spread like wildfire. The first Nativities were almost all live, with live animals, since farming and agrarian economies still existed in the Middle Ages.  Today, around the world, each culture has its own unique rich take on the Birth of the Christ child in the manger. Nativity sets abound around the world, in so many uniquely exquisite forms, it makes the heart smile with gladness.

Each year, the local Franciscan order puts on a "Nativity Scene Festival"  and invites the entire populace to orderly submit their own favorite Nativity Scene, regardless of where in the world it was obtained! Protestants and Catholics and Christ followers of all ages and backgrounds contribute well-crafted and simply marvelous pieces from just about every corner of the world!! Many from all over, bring in their sets, acquired either through their own personal travels or even estate auctions, and share with thousands over a three day period at the Franciscan center, from all walks of life. It is one of the most beautiful events of the local Springfield, Illinois Christmas season.
(Here is the site of this annual event: www.chiaracenter.org)

These are just a small sample of those 131 Nativity sets from around God's Creation.

FIRST IN NATION, IL.  STATE CAPITOL SET (2008)
MARBLE-GLAZED SET WAS MADE IN ITALY

From Puerto Rico

Add caption

Nativity Scene made from olive wood, directly from Bethlehem in the Holy Land

Chinese Nativity Scene

Italian Renaissance piece

Authentic Native American Nativity Scene

Created from a South African Gourd

FROM GRECCIO, ITALY - 
HOME OF THE FIRST NATIVITY SET

And of course - a Charlie Brown Christmas (USA)

FROM THE PERUVIAN AMAZON RAIN FOREST

The Szopka (Nativity) From Krakow, Poland

WAR ON CHRISTMAS, CROSSES - SYMPTOM: DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

Each year around Christmas time, we Christians witness an insidious assault on the Baby Jesus, the Nativity Scene and increasing volume on the War against the Cross. It is absolutely incredibly that so-called “educated and enlightened” people, liberals and academics would work themselves up to hypertension and worse over two pieces of wood, planted on top of a mountain outside Jerusalem in 33 AD.

That is, until we realize what these pieces of wood and the nine inch nails which held them together, signify. It was on this tree, in the shape of a Cross, that God Himself literally gave the mortal side of His Life, for all humanity to be reconciled unto Him – the Eternal. God. This is absolutely something which those who are lost forever cannot comprehend.

In case they are wondering, this is against Whom the godless are fighting against, choosing NOT to know it: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross....(Philippians 2:5-8).

In the Book of Acts, when the Pharisees were debating increasing persecution of Christians, one of their own leaders warned them here: "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."...Acts 5:38-39. Of course, these people did not listen to Gamaliel, their great rabbi. They WERE fighting against God Himself, in the Form of the Resurrected Jesus Christ and His budding church movement!

Today, almost 2000 years later, nothing has really changed. It is not the simple act of removing a Cross from a Christmas tree in Indiana. It is not attempting to remove Crosses from veterans' cemeteries or on top of a hill in California. It is not banning Christmas songs in public schools or taking Charlie Brown posters off middle school doors in Texas. It is not casting away Nativity scenes from the public arena and disappointing entire large groups of citizenry. 

It is the condition of the darkness of their souls and hearts. Though they may have every rich and comfortable perk and convenience this world can provide them. Though they may have every corner of socio-economic, academic or other influence to shut down a kid wearing a Jesus T shirt or even sharing a candy cane with a school mate in elementary school. Though they gain the world, ultimately they are the ones who are to be pitied in their folly. Why? They have their reward in this lifetime. They just don't get it. They never will.

The Word of God, from the very Spirit of Heaven says this, and you can bank on it: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). 

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA JOINS HISTORY MAKING NATIVITY SCENE

In recent years, since the Supreme Court stepped into the arena of outlawing

First in the Nation Nativity Scene, since 2008

certain basic traditions, like prayer in school and Bible reading, this same cultural/religious conflict has extended to Christmas traditions.

Every year we hear about "The War on Christmas". Before going any further, two things should be clear - there has always been a War on Christ. Secondly, since the enemies of God can never AND WILL NEVER get to Christ, the proxy war has always been against true followers of His since 33 AD, when Jesus has been confirmed as crucified by both Roman documents, Josephus the secular historian and of course, the Bible.

Nativity Scenes or "creches" or the "Manger Scene"  are the biggest bone of contention among those pebbles thrown against those who celebrate the Birth of the Savior. But how did we actually get a "Nativity Scene", which is really nowhere in the Bible? Believe it or not, this goes back about 800 years to the great Francis of Assisi who in 1223 observed the same lack of love for the Savior and commercialism we see in modern times. He was stunned by the fact that gift giving was taking precedence (yes also in 1220's!!) over Jesus!

Francis was known for his love of animals and did not just create the first Nativity Scene, but the very first "Living Nativity Scene".  He had live animals in the cave and based his creation on his concept of the atmospherics in the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem. We know from historical conditions around 4 BC to 2 BC, and from my conversations from centuries old families in the Bethlehem and fields of Boaz area, that Jesus was most likely born in a cave or grotto there. The well known shepherds of Bethlehem are still around in those ragged hills where the Choirs of Heaven sang the Saviors birth to the Shepherds in Luke 2. Visitors to the Holy Land can still experience the timeless authenticity of what the Bible spoke of two thousand years ago.

First Responder Chaplain, director of the Illinois Chapter of Wreaths
 across America at the Dedication to the United States Military

Over the years, it became obviously impossible to have live animals in every manger scene, every where. Therefore, all variations of nativity scenes have been created and many centuries old ones still survive to this day. For the last 8 years, a full size Italian Marble Nativity Scene has been placed in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. How is this possible when it is obviously a 100% Christian expression of Faith in a country increasingly hostile to Jesus and Christianity? 

Quite simply, the first in the Nation State Capitol Nativity Scene is a privately-funded expression idea of the late Daniel and Julie Zanoza of Lincoln, Illinois. Together with the Thomas More Society of Chicago, a religious liberty-defending Christian organization and the Illinois Family Institute, the Zanozas were able to form a committee of like-minded Christians to bring the Nativity Scene inside the "People's House" of the state of Illinois! Not just that, but it passed the test of the ACLU as it was one of many such expressions in the beginning, such as the Hanukkah Menorah and others. These others included Seinfeld's imaginary celebration of "Festivus" and its pole. There was an atheist's letter denouncing the existence of God and some others. Side by side, they all co-existed with the beautifully ordained and adorned Nativity Scene outshining them all. Not just that, they sat around the hugest Christmas tree I have ever seen - in the middle of the state capitol rotunda. This sort of religious expression would have made the Founders of this Great Condition smile with pride, as it was what America is all about - Freedom.

Over the years, only the Jewish Festive Menorah and our Nativity Scene have persevered and this is perfect as Christianity is actually a Judeo-Christian religion. Even Jesus celebrated Hanukkah in 29 AD! ("Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. John 10:22-23). Since Illinois has led the way in how to legally celebrate the Savior's birth in the public square (from 2008), ten other American states have followed, from Arkansas to Florida and Mississippi, under the counsel of the American Nativity Scene Committee of suburban Illinois. The Thomas More Society's Founder Thomas Brejcha is one of the leaders of this wonderful group.

In the last three years, Wreaths Across America has now joined us at the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee to partner in remembering and honoring the great United States Military with Christmas wreaths at National Cemeteries. In Springfield, this would be Camp Butler, which as been around since the Union fought the Civil War.  Representing Wreaths Across America, which places tens of thousands of these same sweet smelling natural wreaths at Arlington Cemetery, is Chaplain Steve Holden, of the United States Emergency Services Chaplains Corps. 

Each year, this first in the nation historical event, is celebrated with a full Christmas launch service with speakers and Christmas singers as well as the dedication of the wreaths with full military honors, on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The Springfield Nativity Scene remains inside the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois, until Christmas Eve, for free public viewing. 

LET THE 2014 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING BEGIN - RECOMMENDED BOOKS

SUSAN ROHRER'S "CHRISTMAS BUNDLE"

Christmas is only about three months away, even if the 75 degree of a warm mid-September day warming the heart out there. It is never too early to start thinking and planning for this, the most wonderful time of the year! The best way I can think to kick off our 2014 Christmas Season Recommended Shopping List, is a bundle of sweet, heart-warming e-books for the love of your life, a friend or a teen looking to while the time away during the upcoming Christmas celebrations.

This bundle includes Redeeming Romance novels (Kindle

Author/Director Susan Rohrer

and paperback), written by Movie/TV director/author Susan Rohrer, whose books have been previously reviewed in this blog. (According to Susan, a born-again believer who lives in Los Angeles, a "Redeeming Romance" is  an anthology series, a variety of clean, stand alone, inspirational romantic novels adapted from Susan Rohrer's original movie scripts. Available in Kindle and Paperback Editions, this series is recommended for you if you love: Clean Amish Fiction, Faith based Holiday Romance, Pure Love Stories, and/or Christian Christmas Gift Ideas. By the way, Susan Rohrer is best known for her work as Director of the movie "About Sarah" and the award-winning director of the 1980's TV series "Another Life" as well as several other CBS TV programs and specials).

This Christmas Bundle includes "Merry's Christmas: a love story & Bright Christmas: an Amish love story". Merry's Christmas is a page turner which will warm the heart (and hearth) as the season approaches, as does the authenticity of the Bright Christmas - about the lovable Amish.  Both books are grounded in Faith - the true Faith of Jesus Christ - and take off from there. Given the corrupt culture we swim in now, these clean uplifting love stories will have even those with the toughest exteriors, root for the good folk.

Merry's Christmas is about a working class waitress who is desperate to make ends meet. She, Merry Hopper, takes a temp job as a Christmas Coordinator for a handsome widower, promising to bring Christmas back for his three kids. As the "haves" collide with the "have nots" of this world, Merry finds herself head over heels for the family she's never had, most of all her new banker boss, never realizing that he's well on the way toward a Yuletide engagement to his employer's beautiful daughter. The story develops from there. Merry's Christmas: a love story is a light-hearted family romantic comedy with grown up sensibilities the whole family can enjoy.

Bright Christmas asks the question "Where do you go if your heart is torn between Amish and English loves?" The main character in this book is Charity Bright, a young Amish girl whose journey through life brings her to the crossroads of making the stark choice which every Amish young person must make at the end of their controversial Rumspringa "rites of passage". Charity Bright's adventure happens during the Advent or Christmas season and carries the possibility of  a "bright Christmas" for her! The bundle for these two books are available by clicking on the link provided below. Happy Reading!

BOTH BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE NOW AS A BUNDLE BY CLICKING HERE ON THIS LINK. THE BUNDLE PRICE IS ONLY $5.95 FOR EACH BOOK

More on our recommended reading Christmas list to come

NEXT: DUCK DYNASTY MEETS HUCK FINN?

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:13-14)

This direct message from heaven was for all mankind from all over the earth, for ALL time.  The fact that the Good News of Christ's descent to earth to bring Salvation (since the name "Jesus" means "He will save the people from their sins") has reverberated worldwide ever since we began celebrating His birthdate as December 25! It is confirmation of John 3:16, where our Great God in Heaven SO loved us (the world) that He gave His only begotten Son. 

This gift is celebrated many different ways in almost all countries. Each culture has its own rich tradition. I have lived in both first and third world countries and love the Flavor of Christmas with both the Irving Berlin "White Christmas" setting as well as the Feliz Navidad Caribbean/hispanic and others I've witness both here in North America and elsewhere.

There are different stories of Christmas in every country. The traditional Christmas food in each land is amazing! From the black rum cake and punch de creme of the West Indies to the Shepherd's Pie of Great Britain to the pastries of Europe and the Christmas cookies of North America....the assortment is mind-boggling! 

So what about music? Well,the wide range of Christmas music is phenomenal, as wekkm and so rich! So without further ado, here is a sample of Christmas music from around the Globe, on Christmas Day:

THIS ONE COVERS ALL CULTURES IN ONE FELL SWOOP - 

FROM AFRICAN TO AUSTRALIAN TO AMERICAN: 

HAWAII:

Afrikaans

"Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar"

Arabic

"I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida"

Argentine

"Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo"

Armenian

"Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand"

Basque

Eguberri on

Bohemian

"Vesele Vanoce"

Breton

"Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat"

Bulgarian

"Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo"

Chinese

[Mandarin]

"Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"

SPANISH LANGUAGE:

IRELAND:

GERMANY (WORLD WAR 1):

[Catonese]

"Saint Dan Fai Lok"

Cornish

"Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth"

Croatian

"Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina"

(Merry Christmas & Happy New Year)

Czech

"Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"

Danish

"Glædelig Jul"

Dutch

"Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"

Inupiaq Eskimo

(Kotzebue area in NW Alaska)

"Quvianagli Anaiyyuniqpaliqsi suli Nakuuluni Ukiutqiutiqsi"

(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)

English

"Merry Christmas"

Estonian

"Haid joule ja head uut aastat"

Farsi

"Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad"

Filipino

"Maligayang Pasko"

ITALIAN (TRADITIONAL):

ITALIAN (FUNNY):

FRANCE:

Finnish

"Hyvaa joulua"

French

"Joyeux Noël"

German

"Froehliche Weihnachten"

Greek

"Kala Christouyenna"

Hawaiian

"Mele Kalikimaka"

Hebrew

"Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova"

Hindi

"Shub Naya Baras"

Hungarian

"Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket"

Icelandic

"Gledileg Jol"

Indonesian

"Selamat Hari Natal"

Iraqi

"Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah"

JAMAICAN:

TRINIDAD:

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

Irish

"Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

Italian

"Buone Feste Natalizie"

Japanese

"Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto."

The first part is translated Happy New Year.

"Kurisumasu omedeto" means Merry Christmas.

Korean

"Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

Latvian

"Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu"

Lithuanian

"Linksmu Kaledu"

Navajo

"Merry Keshmish"

Norwegian

"God Jul"

Pennsylvania German

"En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr"

Polish

"Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia"

Portuguese

"Feliz Natal" "Boas Festas"(Good Holidays.)

Romanian

"Craciun fericit"

(Merry Christmas)

Russian

"Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva s Novim Godom"

Serbian

"Hristos se rodi"

Slovakian

"Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce"

Samoan

"La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou"

Scots Gaelic

"Nollaig chridheil huibh"

Serb-Croatian

"Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina"

Slovak

"Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok"

Slovene

"Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto"

Spanish

"Feliz Navidad"

Swedish

"God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År"

Tahitian

Merry Chrismas:

" Ia orana te Noera"
Thai

"Sawadee Pee Mai"

Turkish

"Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"

Vietnamese

"Chuc Mung Giang Sinh"

Welsh

"Nadolig Llawen"

Yugoslavian

"Cestitamo Bozic"

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE WORLD!

OH LITTLE TOWN OF "BEIT LEHEM" - HOUSE OF BREAD!

Micah 5:2(NKJV): " But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me - The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."

A cold dark, starry, starry night in the little sleepy village of Bethlehem was a night just like any other.....or was it? Bethlehem literally means "House of Bread" (from the Hebrew "Beit Lehem"). The great King of the Bible and History - David, was born here, as was his father Jesse, from the Line of Abraham. By the way, isn't it amazing that the Bread of Life (Christ) was born in the "House of Bread"!

Once in Royal David City, stood a lowly cattle shed, a manger if you will. Rachel, the wife of Jacob (Israel) is buried at the entrance to the gate of the little town. The fields of Boaz, from the book of Ruth are in this area. It is so like God, to send His Only One - Yeshua the Maschiah (Jesus the Messiah) to be born in a land with such a rich, yet humble history. 

He had planned it long, long ago.

The world of the Jews at the time were looking for a political deliverer, just like most today who can only see and exist in the temporal and the flesh. They missed the importance of the Creator "Whose goings-forth are from old"...and Who has always existed. This is Who was born in this little town, on Christmas day.

It matters not what day of the Hebrew or Julian calendar He was born. This day which was chosen to celebrate His Birth can be used to shout His Name from the mountaintop. From the day after Thanksgiving to December 25, we have four weeks when the world has its eyes and, without being totally conscious of it, hearts tuned in to what Christians celebrate.

So as we go about our Christmas programs, carols, outreach and even shopping etc...let us NOT waste this privilege to share the Hope, Love, Peace, Joy and Encouragement of the Ancient of Days, born cold and humble in a shed of straw not too far from where poor, unloved and rugged shepherds - as insignificant as you and I - were tending sheep that night almost 2000 years ago!

Merry Christmas to one and all, in Jesus Name, Amen.