December 20, 2010

One of my favorite books is Max Lucado’s little book, Cosmic Christmas. I have used these quotes from that book before, but some things are just worth repeating. Hope you enjoy them as we near the Christmas Season

"And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

"So this is He. Immanuel. So this is God's gift. A Savior. He shall save His people from their sins. 'Worthy is the Lamb.' I whispered, as I knelt before my God. My heart was full. I turned to Mary as she cradled her child and I spoke. It didn't matter that she couldn't hear me. The stars could. All of nature could. And most of all, my King could.

'Do you know who you hold, Mary? You secure the Author of grace. He who is ageless is now moments old. He who is limitless is now suckling your milk. He who strides upon the stars, now has legs too weak to walk; the hands which held the oceans are now an infant's fist. To Him who has never asked a question, you will teach the name of the wind. The Source of language will learn words from you. He who has never stumbled, you will carry. He who has never hungered, you will feed. The King of creation is in your arms.'

'What manner of love is this?' Michael whispered, and again we were covered with silence. A blanket of awe. Finally, Michael again opened his mouth, this time to sing. He began quietly, pausing between the words.

'Glory,

glory,

glory to God in the highest.'

One by one we joined.

'Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest.'

Gradually the chorus grew louder and faster; 'Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest.'

Our praise rose into the realms of the universe. In the most distant galaxy the dust on the oldest star danced with our praise. In the depths of the ocean, the water rippled with adoration. The tiniest microbe turned, the mightiest constellation spun, all of nature joined with us as we worshiped Immanuel, the God who had become flesh."

Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado pages 95-97

Thought for the week: "I put all my money into taxes; that's the only thing that's sure to go up."

Funny for the week: "Eye Exam"

Eye-examination charts vary according to the manufacturer, but one thing they have in common is that they don't spell anything.

One day a patient came into my office for an ophthalmological exam. I asked him to read the 20/40 line of the eye chart, but obviously the letters FZBDE were mostly a blur to him. Finally he ventured a guess.

"I can't pronounce his name," the man said, "but I think he played football for Notre Dame."

Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer:

15. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?

a. The angel

b. Mary’s mother

c. Herod

d. Alexander the Great

e. Caesar Augustus See Luke 2:1-4

g. None of the above

This week’s question:

16. Joseph took the boy Jesus to Egypt:

a. To show him the pyramids

b. To teach him the wisdom of the pharaohs

c. To put him in a basket in the reeds by the river

d. Because he dreamed about it

e. To be taxed

f. Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt

g. None of the above.