HONESDALE, Pa. — A cross and star in a Wayne County community are the centers of controversy, and now an effort is underway to keep them in the face of a possible legal battle. Newswatch 16 first told you Monday about the letter objecting to the cross and star in a public park in Honesdale.…
I have been hearing of this on the news for a couple days and it is really bothering me. We live in a country where we have Freedom of Religion, but if we express that freedom people get upset. Whatever happened to our rights our forefathers fought for us over 240 years ago. If you don’t remember what I am talking about I will refresh your memory.
Bill of Rights: Amendment 1 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Maybe our government is trying to get us to give up our freedom slowly so they can control us. It has seemed like we are getting closer and closer to Socialism, social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. Our government owns a lot now and there are so many people on welfare. I hope our country becomes great again like President Donald Trump said he would make it.
I want to let today’s generation know what the true meaning of Christmas truly is. All we hear anymore is Santa Clause, Rudolf, and the Snowman. Well that is not where Christmas came from. I want you to enjoy Christmas for what it is truly meant for, plus Santa.
The Birth of Jesus Christ of Mary
Since the beginning of time God had intended to send His Son Jesus Christ as our Savior. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible about His coming. I am going to share a few with you first before I share the story of His birth.
Prophecy of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament
There are many in the Old Testament but I will share three of what I see is important for Christmas.
The Birth of the Messiah
Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.”
Well the main thing is Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Also prophesying that He would be of David descent.
The Messiah Will Be Born Of A Virgin
We know that it is impossible for a virgin birth to happen, unless it is a miracle. If this happened today I do not think I would believe it. It happened over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. It was prophesied way before it ever could be planned to take place.
Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’”
Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titlesThat: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!”
He was crucified and rose again the third day for our sins. Today He reigns in Heaven beside His Father our Lord and will return in the end at the second coming, but that is a story for another day.
The Messiah To Die By Crucifixion, With Pierced Hands And Feet
Jesus died from crucifixion. Believe it or not many people stayed alive for days in severe pain hanging on the cross back in that time. That is why it is a miracle in it’s self that He died on the cross.
Psalm 22:14-16 – “My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within Me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet.”
Zechariah 12:10a – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son.”
Still today God gives us His grace.
The Birth Of Jesus Christ in the New Testament
Jesus came to us as a baby. He came around the change from B.C. to A.D. It has been debated for a long time when He was born exactly, but one thing we do know He was not born on Christmas Day. He was born in either the Spring or Fall.
It was during the time of Caesar Augustus. Caesar started taxes and everyone had to go to a town to pay. This is how God got Mary to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus. He was also born in a manger because there was no room for them. He was born as the poorest of the poor and is the King of Kings. Here is the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ
2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,a]”>[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,b]”>[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”c]”>[c]
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widelyd]”>[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Conclusion
You may find it hard to believe in an Omnipotent God and a Savior, but I have witnessed things in my life and my friends’ lives that will say otherwise. I have had friends that should have been dead but have survived, I know people that had nothing but survived because of prayer to God, and myself I may have taken my own life a few years ago if God did not stand by me. Life is hard I will agree with that, but God, Jesus Christ our Savior is there with us everyday. Santa Clause is not why we celebrate Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is Jesus our Savior. Believe in him and you will not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Biblegateway.com. (2017). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.. [online] Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/ [Accessed 10 Dec. 2017].
I want to let today’s generation know what the true meaning of Christmas truly is. All we hear anymore is Santa Clause, Rudolf, and the Snowman. Well that is not where Christmas came from. I want you to enjoy Christmas for what it is truly meant for, plus Santa.
The Birth of Jesus Christ of Mary
Since the beginning of time God had intended to send His Son Jesus Christ as our Savior. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible about His coming. I am going to share a few with you first before I share the story of His birth.
Prophecy of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament
There are many in the Old Testament but I will share three of what I see is important for Christmas.
The Birth of the Messiah
Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.”
Well the main thing is Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Also prophesying that He would be of David descent.
The Messiah Will Be Born Of A Virgin
We know that it is impossible for a virgin birth to happen, unless it is a miracle. If this happened today I do not think I would believe it. It happened over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. It was prophesied way before it ever could be planned to take place.
Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’”
Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titlesThat: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!”
He was crucified and rose again the third day for our sins. Today He reigns in Heaven beside His Father our Lord and will return in the end at the second coming, but that is a story for another day.
The Messiah To Die By Crucifixion, With Pierced Hands And Feet
Jesus died from crucifixion. Believe it or not many people stayed alive for days in severe pain hanging on the cross back in that time. That is why it is a miracle in it’s self that He died on the cross.
Psalm 22:14-16 – “My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within Me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet.”
Zechariah 12:10a – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son.”
Still today God gives us His grace.
The Birth Of Jesus Christ in the New Testament
Jesus came to us as a baby. He came around the change from B.C. to A.D. It has been debated for a long time when He was born exactly, but one thing we do know He was not born on Christmas Day. He was born in either the Spring or Fall.
It was during the time of Caesar Augustus. Caesar started taxes and everyone had to go to a town to pay. This is how God got Mary to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus. He was also born in a manger because there was no room for them. He was born as the poorest of the poor and is the King of Kings. Here is the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ
2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,a]”>[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,b]”>[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”c]”>[c]
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widelyd]”>[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Conclusion
You may find it hard to believe in an Omnipotent God and a Savior, but I have witnessed things in my life and my friends’ lives that will say otherwise. I have had friends that should have been dead but have survived, I know people that had nothing but survived because of prayer to God, and myself I may have taken my own life a few years ago if God did not stand by me. Life is hard I will agree with that, but God, Jesus Christ our Savior is there with us everyday. Santa Clause is not why we celebrate Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is Jesus our Savior. Believe in him and you will not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Biblegateway.com. (2017). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.. [online] Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/ [Accessed 10 Dec. 2017].
We all have a complicated life. Some of us have problems with finances, some of us with friends, some of us with the lost of a loved one, and some have problems with peers and parents growing up. I am going to focus on the latter. I am focusing on a problem I have had since I was seven. It has been difficult for me to comprehend because the Bible says,
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
The main point is “Be kind on to another”. When people can never be kind it is hard to put away the bitterness.
Childhood was Difficult and not Happy
I have always believed childhood should be a happy time. A time to learn, to grow up, to experience new things all the time, but now I look back a believe that childhood is a rough hard road that we need to battle. We grow strength from learning from our challenges, unfairness, and the neglect we had as a child. When we grow up we are responsible for ourselves and have full control.
School was not always great
There are reasons I believe this. One of the main ones is because of all the troubles I had in school. I was always harassed in elementary school. My step-father, which I will get to soon, did not believe me, my mother did although. When I was in public school my sister saw kids pushing me around, calling me names, and even trying to pick a fight.
When I was in the second grade I begged my mother to take me out of public school. She did and put me into a Christian school. I made a few friends there, which are still friends today, but there were more jerks then nice people. I still got picked on, but the teachers and the principal did something about it. I even got into a couple fights my four years there. One was when we were on our ski trip. When the principal found out he pulled the guy off the slopes and sat him in the ski resort. The principal also suspended him. My friend left that school and went to a different Christian school so I went with them.
School gets better
This is the school I graduated from and the church I go to today. Here I had more friends, but had some religious differences. There were a few people I wish were never there, but we cannot have a day go the way we want it to all the time. Some things happen for a reason, because God has a purpose for it. One thing I have learned from what I put up with through school is always be kind to people around you. You may never know if a person is having a good day or bad day, lost a loved one or expecting a newborn, or has a lot of stress on their mind or is the happiest person on earth. Keep your mind open because you may be there to save a person or they are there to save you.
Father issues since I was a child
Now earlier I mentioned about my step-father not believing me on the problems I had in school. Well it did not stop there. I do not always believe a person at first, but when it gets consistent then I get curious if it is true or not. That has never been my step-dad.
When I wanted to go out to eat on Sunday after church I knew I had to bother my mother. If I even mentioned it to my step-father he would not take us out. Then I wondered if he did not take us because we asked to go. I thought he did not like us asking to go out to eat. Now I believe it was because it was not his idea. Looking back in life with my step-father he was and is a self-centered, egotistical, selfish, jerk. My whole life I have never liked people like this. The last decade it has been a lot worse. As of New Year’s Day I have had enough! I have cut him off as my step-father, I am no longer talking to him, nor offering any help. It is over 30 years of he is always right and everyone else is always wrong. What happened that Sunday is not really significant. I will say he was saying I was wrong and I had non-argumentative proof that I was right. When a person cannot admit they are wrong sincerely they are guilty of pride and arrogance.
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
You may wonder why I would cut him out of my life. Well it is not as simple as going out to eat after church. He has always been negative. I have been ambitious since I was in high school. Words affect you especially if you hear them your entire life. When all you hear are negative word from a person they make you think negative. Although I have always had a drive to be someone better than him, better than me. I always want to improve myself one way or another. So it has always been like an ongoing fight that no one ever wins. It is no longer worth being near such a negative person that it holds my life, my mind back so much I cannot believe in myself. Now I am focusing entirely on myself. It may sound selfish, but I have given so much of my life away it is time to live. It may not stay constant. Once I am living maybe things will settle, but until then it is time to start my life.
We all believe true love is with the one we will fall in love with for the rest of our lives. I do not believe that is the truth. I believe true love is much more simple to find, I believe most of us have found it since the day we were born. Love is not something that grows inside us because we came from love. God created this World with love and created Man and Woman with love. We should always love one another.
” Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
A Child Loves Their Parent
When a child is born it shows love for the mother and father. It does not start there though. It begins in the mother’s womb. The child is one with the mother and grows very close to the father. If the father is not around rather if it is due to a job, separation, divorce, or a disagreement in a relationship the child will grow close to the mother and not the father. If there is a lot of arguing, fighting, or disagreeing while the child is still in the womb it can make the child very distant from the parents. In any of these scenarios the child still loves their parents. It is just showing the love for their parents is what gets difficult.
According to the American Psychological Association, 40 to 50 percent of couples get divorced in the United States. This is very hard on the child. When the child is still young, below their teen years, it can cause problems latter in life. It may seem they accept their new family, new home, new friends; but things do change in life and when the child reaches their older teen years or later they may wonder what would have happened if their parents had never been divorced. This is where the blame game comes in to effect. The sad part is there is no one truly to blame, but the child won’t learn that till their adult years. That maybe a little late.
There are children that live in good homes rather if their parents got divorced or never had been divorced. One way is a divorced family can keep consistent contact. The parents need to swallow their pride and think of their children. It is like going to work and putting up with an arrogant boss. The problem is if you quit having family you cannot go get another family, at least not your true family. You quit your job there is always another one out there. Parents do not think of yourselves all the time, think what you can do for your children so the grow up with a better life than you did. If you do they will always be there for you when they reach adulthood, have a job, and have their own home. Maybe one day you will move in with them.
Love of Husband and Wife
I have heard before that love is love. I do not believe that is true. The love between a man and a woman is a love that grows. It does not have a bonding together like a child and his/her mother. I do believe we all have a soul mate that God wants us to be with in life. I believe there is a true love that God has us destined for in our life. It seems like this day and age we do not meet our soul mate or at least do not take the opportunity to take a move when we are given it.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Maybe if we could show love to each other married couples will last, families will stay close, friends will be friends, and there would be more happiness and peace in the World. So the next time you see a person who needs help, has a question, or maybe someone who wants to help you thank God and be happy.
