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Adoration of the shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst (Wikipedia)
Taking a moment to wish everyone a very special Merry Christmas. Peace and blessings to all.
American Minute by William Federer
 “When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
“Down the ages from the first Christmas through all the years of nineteen centuries, mankind in its weary pilgrimage through a changing world has been … strengthened by the message of Christmas. … The angels sang for joy at the first Christmas in faraway Bethlehem. Their song has echoed through the corridors of time and will continue to sustain the heart of man through eternity … A humble man and woman had gone up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth to Bethlehem … … St. Luke’s brief chronicle that Mary ‘brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn’.”<!– –><!– –><!– –>
“As we light this National Christmas tree tonight, here on the White House lawn–as all of us light our own Christmas trees in our own homes–we remember another night long ago. … Then a Child was born in a stable. A star hovered over, drawing wise men from afar. Shepherds, in a field, heard angels singing … That was the first Christmas and it was God’s great gift to us … Year after year it brings peace and tranquility to troubled hearts in a troubled world. … And tonight the earth seems hushed, as we turn to the old, old story of how ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ … Let us remember always to try to act and live in the spirit of the Prince of Peace. He bore in His heart no hate and no malice-nothing but love for all mankind. We should try as nearly as we can to follow His example … We believe that all men are truly the children of God. As we worship at this Christmastide, let us worship in this spirit … … Through Jesus Christ the world will yet be a better and a fairer place … I wish for all of you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and many years of future happiness with the peace of God reigning upon this earth.” Through the ages, Christmas Eve was the occasion for many notable events and acknowledgements.
 <!– –> On CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 1492, Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria, ran aground on the island of Hispanola (Haiti). Columbus left 40 men and named the settlement la Navidad, promising to return the next year.
On CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 1777, Captain James Cook discovered Christmas Island, the largest atoll in the Pacific, where he observed eclipse of the sun.
On CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Belgium, officially ending the War of 1812. Word did not reach America in time to prevent a British attack on New Orleans, which Andrew Jackson repelled January 8, 1815.
Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders sent a live television broadcast from 250,000 miles away, reading from the Book of Genesis and giving a Christmas Greeting: “We are now approaching Lunar sunrise. And for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. … And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good … And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters … And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. … And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.” Frank Borman ended by saying: “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you–all of you on the good Earth.”
President Richard Nixon stated January 20, 1969: “As the Apollo astronauts flew over the moon’s gray surface on CHRISTMAS EVE, they spoke to us the beauty of earth–and in that voice so clear across the lunar distance, we heard them invoke God’s blessing on its goodness.” |
On CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 1947, President Truman lit the National Community Christmas Tree, stating:
On CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24, 1952, President Harry S Truman lit the National Community Christmas Tree, stating:
Permission is granted to forward, reprint or duplicate with acknowledgement by American Minute, William J. Federer.
Cross-posted on Wow! Magazine.
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