‘A world-famous father that everyone seemed to love and respect was a violent, mean, raging man who often mistreated his son, especially during Christmas, but that almost unbelievable truth would not be revealed for decades after it could have made a difference.
Christmas is celebrated worldwide, and for that, I am pleased even if the boozing, wild spending, partying, and general excesses usually accompany the season. It should also be an opportunity for parents to teach their children basic principles they need for adulthood. How to live does not come automatically, and it must be taught.
What a story to tell everyone: Christ was born to a virgin as angels celebrated His lowly birth. Wise men traveled hundreds of miles to worship him with many expensive gifts. King Herod the Great killed all males under two years old in Bethlehem and its coasts. There is a hurried trip by the young family to Egypt to escape a bloody king’s paranoia.
Who needs toys, trees, and tinsel with a story like that?
Santa is a fun thing to children; however, most parents make a tragic mistake by letting them think he is real. Maybe they don’t lie, but they go along with that untruth. That is a lie (even if you insist it is a white lie—no such thing), and no child should be told a lie. No parent should undercut their rightful authority by confusing children for “a little harmless fun.” The gifts came from parents and others, not from Santa.
It is not harmless.
Have your trees, toys, and tinsel but inform children that they are honoring the most incredible event in world history: God became man to provide personal salvation to anyone who merely trusts Him in simple faith. Additionally: children should be taught the qualities needed for a successful life.
I am saying Christmas should promote character. One should learn early to be a giver; to stand against tyrants; to serve others; to be humble. All of that is not natural and must be taught.
We know Christ came to provide life, but He also promised abundant life. Children need to be taught that Christ is the pattern for them. Children don’t absorb truth as a sponge absorbs water, instead, they must be taught. Even church people make the mistake of thinking it is enough to tell children the truth and expect that to settle the fact for all time. It doesn’t happen that way. Most parents major in talking, failing to follow up with teaching and training. That seldom happens and our schools and streets are overrun with thugs, made that way by uninformed, or unconcerned, or unmotivated parents.
No child has to be taught to lie, be selfish, or be unkind. With time, usually very early, each child will prove that truth since they are born with a sinful nature, a reality that makes humanists go ballistic. “How dare you suggest my innocent little children have a sinful nature.” Well, they do. That’s why Christ told Nicodemus he needed to be born again: that his first birth was not enough, and he must have a new nature through the new birth.
That’s why we have Christmas.
Since the last few generations have failed in rearing principled children, we have people in positions of power without principle. Political lying is not only accepted, it is expected. University professors, with missionary zeal, peddle ridiculous lies to our youth.
Attractive women, who are blessed with beauty and unblessed with brains, deem it appropriate to expose their bodies for the whole world to ogle. They usually decorate their body with a silver cross, whatever that means. Young adults think someone or some group or the government owes them whatever they want. They think they deserve it since they are poor, oppressed, hated, and ridiculed, doing outrageous things without accountability.
It is too late absent a radical born-again experience for those pathetic people who were failed by their parents. They were not taught biblical characteristics of always being honest, punctual, kind, generous, obedient, honorable, charitable, hard-working, dependable, respectable, and forgiving.
I saw many children in Christian homes without character during my early years because their parents had failed to teach and practice principled living. They taught the Bible but did not apply it to their lives. I determined that I would not be so dedicated to the ministry that I failed my own children. When my wife was pregnant with our son, to be followed by three beautiful blonds, I wrote the principles we would follow in making them normal, gracious, adult Christians. She was faithful in implementing those rules to her credit while I spent much of my time traveling as an evangelist and Christian apologist.
I don’t need to admit that my brood is not perfect, far from it. After all, half their genes are mine.
I am delighted with how our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have developed. Of course, everyone reading this is saying, “Yes, but wait until they are grown.” Well, my children had enough commitment to train their children, and I think those children are training their children to be an honor to our family, Christianity, and America.
Sending children to a Christian school is not enough since teachers must be concerned with academics: science, history, geography, English, spelling, math, biology, etc. The successful school will implement Christian character into each subject, but that is not enough. Parents must talk, teach, and train their children, which requires work—consistent, persistent work. Most parents are too lazy or selfish, resulting in today’s America—bedlam, which means “a scene of uproar and confusion.”
Using the Bible, parents should train their children in biblical truth. Additional character-building materials are also available. The best help I have seen is a series written by Dr. Ed Dunlop. I was surprised to discover I deeply enjoyed reading the series a few years ago and have since recommended that series to thousands of people, schools, and home schools. It is called the Terrestria Chronicles, a medieval allegory series. The students don’t notice the abundance of character-building taking place because they are so engrossed in the story.
Be proactive now if your children are disobedient, slothful, angry, unmotivated, or even harm other children or pets. Almost all mass killers have had a history of mistreatment of animals and children. Children should be taught to not even break or destroy a toy.
The above books would be a very beneficial Christmas gift to a child. It could pay big time.
Lindsay was a handsome boy who was given whatever he wanted except love, acceptance, and training. His world-famous father often screamed obscenities at him and beat him at times. He was especially brutal during the Christmas season. He was given extra chores to do during that time, but it never seemed to satisfy his stern father. The whippings often drew blood.
He had three older brothers, but Lindsay incurred most of his father’s rage.
The public would have been shocked if the famous father’s actions had become public. That didn’t happen until many years later, and even today, few know the details.
A friend of Lindsay’s said, “Lindsay was never able to find happiness. He became a hard-drinking rounder who went from woman to woman and couldn’t find peace or success.” Because of his famous father, Lindsay was cast in a few movies that failed, as did his other endeavors, including his three marriages.
Having a famous father, Lindsay and his three older brothers formed a singing quartet and experienced a short period of success on major television shows, but he was always compared to his father. When Lindsay had a nervous breakdown, the quartet broke up.
Another failure.
After a lifetime of failure and being forced to live in the shadow of his famous and brutal father, Lindsay made a tragic decision. It was just before Christmas on December 11, that he watched Bing Crosby’s White Christmas movie in his apartment one last time. He then put a gun to his head and put a bullet in his brain.
Tragically, Lindsay’s brother Dennis killed himself with a shotgun two years later. Shockingly, their dad was Bing Crosby, the world-famous singer and movie star. However, some family members disagree with that extreme characterization of Bing.
Lindsay wrote, “I hated Christmas because of Pop, and I always will,” and continued, “It brings back the pain and fear I suffered as a child. And if I ever do myself in, it will be at Christmastime. That will show the world what I think of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.”
Christ’s birth is the most extraordinary story ever told, but apparently, Lindsay never knew the true story of Christmas. The death of Lindsay Crosby is one of the most tragic stories ever told.
And it didn’t have to be.
Christ’s birth, death, and physical resurrection were Lindsay’s answers he and his family needed. That is because Jesus Christ makes a difference when accepted, and biblical principles are instilled in children.
The best Christmas gift you can give to your family is recognizing your sin, repenting of that sin, and receiving Christ as Savior.
Merry Christmas and a very successful New Year, the best of your life!’https://donboys.cstnews.com/a-shocking-christmas-story-unknown-by-the-world
This is unreal! The Western love for liberty and freedom seems to be gone down the tube to Communism and it is going to be coming to your hometown very soon!
‘Police: “It’s against the law to say ‘Father Christmas isn’t real.” Watch footage from Christmas Eve of eight police officers arriving in Taunton town centre to shut down Christian preacher, Mike Overd, and a group of carol singers. Watch what a member of the public says to the officers at the end.
This is another example of the police misusing section 5 of the Public Order Act to suppress freedom of speech and anything that might upset members of the public.
Mike is awaiting the outcome of a legal case against Avon and Somerset police over what his lawyers describe as an ‘eight year campaign of harassment’ against him. Please pray for justice in his case.’https://christianconcern.com/news/police-its-against-the-law-to-say-father-christmas-isnt-real/
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
‘It is singularly appropriate that we look at this greatest of all verses on Christmas Day, for it records the greatest of all gifts. The theme of giving is very prominent in the Bible, with such words as “give,” “gift,” “gave,” etc., occurring more than 2,100 times. The first is Genesis 1:16-17 when God created the sun, moon, and stars “to give light upon the earth,” and the last is Revelation 22:12 when Christ will return with His rewards to “give every man according as his work shall be.” “He…gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,” as well as “life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 14:17; 17:25).
But the greatest gift, clearly, was when God gave Himself for a lost and undeserving world. It was the greatest gift because it met the greatest need, revealed the greatest love, and had the greatest scope and purpose of any gift that could ever be conceived in the heart of an omniscient Creator.
That was not the end of His giving, of course. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “Trust…in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
This great gift of God is abundantly sufficient to provide salvation and everlasting life for the whole world. But a gift only becomes a gift when it is accepted, and the greatest of all tragedies is that this greatest of all gifts has been spurned and even ridiculed, or—worst of all—simply ignored by multitudes who need it so much. When they brazenly refuse God’s free gift of everlasting life, they can only perish in everlasting death. God did all He could do when He gave His Son; for when He gave His Son, He gave Himself.’https://www.icr.org/article/12507/?utm_source=phplist9193&utm_medium=email&utm_content=HTML&utm_campaign=December+25+-+God+Gave+Himself
‘Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas has been a tradition for millions since it first aired on December 9, 1965. This year, many Americans were disappointed that Apple TV scooped up the streaming rights for the 2020 season. The outrage ultimately resulted in it showing up on PBS. (You can still buy the holiday offering on DVD.)
However you watch it, there’s so much to appreciate: Many love the iconic Vince Guaraldi score, the humor and the animation. But one part of the special has always stood out and made it unique: Linus’s recitation of the Gospel of Luke.
Explaining the true meaning of Christmas in a network television special broadcast to millions was a controversial move, even 55 years ago. In 2015, The Washington Post published a retrospective on A Charlie Brown Christmas. Michael Cavna explained Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s mission in making the special:
Charles Schulz insisted on one core purpose: A Charlie Brown Christmas had to be about something. Namely, the true meaning of Christmas. Otherwise, Schulz said, “Why bother doing it?”
To Coca-Cola’s credit, Mendelson says, the corporate sponsor never balked at the idea of including New Testament passages. The result — Linus’s reading from the Book of Luke about the meaning of the season — became “the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation,” the producer says.
Schulz stood strong, despite efforts to talk him out of quoting from the Bible. On December 5, 2005, USA Today recounted:
[Executive producer Lee] Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez fretted about the insistence by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz that his first-ever TV spinoff end with a reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke by a lisping little boy named Linus.
“We told Schulz, ‘Look, you can’t read from the Bible on network television,’ ” Mendelson says. “When we finished the show and watched it, Melendez and I looked at each other and I said, ‘We’ve ruined Charlie Brown.’ “
Mental Floss writer Kara Kovalchik recounted what happened next:
But CBS had made a commitment to their sponsor, so they aired the special as scheduled on December 9, 1965. And, as often happens in the world of entertainment, the original gut reaction of the suits was completely wrong. A Charlie Brown Christmas drew in 15.4 million viewers, placing it second in the ratings that week after Bonanza. A few months later, Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson found themselves onstage accepting an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program.
And so, the Charlie Brown creator persevered and created a Christmas classic that endures 54 years later. In case you don’t remember the iconic moment, here it is:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace and goodwill towards men.’
“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”’https://papundits.wordpress.com/2020/12/25/how-the-creator-of-a-charlie-brown-christmas-got-the-gospel-past-cbs-execs-2/
Matthew 2:1,2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
‘On 21st December 2020, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will pass so close to one another they will appear as one. The expected increase in brightness has people making all sorts of claims about the original Christmas star. Three thousand years ago King David also wrote about the then yet to come Christmas star when he penned: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained”. (Psalm 8:3 KJV)
According to experts the last time Jupiter and Saturn had such a close passing was some 800 years ago, shortly after the Normans invaded England and brought their Latin-based language with them, the word ‘consider’ included. That word found its way into the English language Coverdale Bible (1535) and thence to widespread usage via the 1611 King James Bible, as the translation for the Hebrew word ‘raw-aw’, meaning to look and think about, which in the case of Psalm 8 means to view and ponder the lighted objects in the heavens.
The connection is fascinating because the old Latin word for star is ‘sider’. Have you ‘consider-ed’ that, because the word ‘con-sider’ actually means ‘with the stars’? Present day astronomers state this latest Christmas star event happens once every 800 years. Therefore, it should have been seen in the 1200’s, then before that in the 400’s and also around 400 BC, so it can’t have been the real Christmas star from two millennia ago that heralded Jesus birth.
The predictable regularity of even this ‘Christmas star’ is an example of what Psalmist David labels ‘ordained’ – i.e. there is a plan built into star motion and star time. Ordained means set aside for a holy purpose, and we first read about such an ordination back in Genesis 1:14-19 where God made the stars for signs and times and seasons.
The wise men who visited Christ certainly con-sider-ed the stars – and 2,000 years ago they set out in faith because of a star sign which somehow meant go to Israel. When they arrived in Jerusalem it was the priests who told them the written Word of God stated the King they sought would be born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:4-6 quoting Micah 5:2) The Magi, or wise men, had believed in faith, firstly the star sign and then the Scriptures, and they obeyed. Those wise men came to worship the Christ who is King of Creation, so let us do the same as we recognise it was this same Jesus who had set the planets and the stars in motion on the fourth day of creation, and given them such a notion that they would be in the right place at just the right time to message the wise men that the King was coming. The Christmas star was ordained, i.e. set aside for holy purpose from the beginning.
You and I need to con-sider the stars just like the wise men did, and then proclaim with the Psalmist ‘O Lord Our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth’ (Psalm 8:1) and never forget that this same Jesus also warned us that in the last days the stars will begin to fall (Matthew 24:29). Make sure you trust Him as the sovereign all-knowing all-powerful Creator Lord, and as your Saviour and King, and be in awe of the One who built the end into the beginning.’ An email from https://creationresearch.net/
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded
Are we living in the days of Noah and Lot? I believe we are and born again believers ought to be vigil in witnessing and looking for that blessed Hope! Now, why am I saying this? Well, you would have to be a monk cloistered away in some monastery or just plain non-discerning not to see what the world and Satan are doing. Here are just two examples.
For instance in the UK the BBC has a page where young people are confronted with the subject matter of such things as;
Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, we strongly advise teacher viewing before watching with your pupils.’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/pshe-ks2-the-big-talk/zn8f7nb
Now, I could not view the clips due to my location so the Lord protected me from that thankfully. But, what about the children who are exposed to this new gospel? How do you think those who put these clips together explain sexual health, body image or gender identities?
Creation Ministries International has an excellent article on this Satanic push for our children and grandchildren. For instance under body image “Children ask, what is ‘body image’? Leo explains she was born female, but now lives as a ‘man’ (presumably, after sex reassignment surgery). The discussion, oddly, is focussed on freedom to wear make-up. Growing up as a woman, Leo confessed to “really enjoying wearing make-up”. When Leo came out as a ‘trans-man’ it concerned Leo that “wearing make-up wasn’t something that boys do”. Leo says, “but then I realized, boys can do whatever they want—so I’m gonna wear make-up!” It appears that, on the day of filming, Leo appeared masculine, sporting a moustache, black t-shirt, jeans and trainers. The children listening to Leo nod approvingly. The normalization of transgenderism is not something to be celebrated with children.
Within the same video, the conversation then switches, insidiously, from make-up to plastic surgery. Children ask, “Do some people want to get plastic surgery to have body parts bigger or smaller?” Teacher Kirsty explains that, if someone is not “comfortable with their body as they start to grow up … when they are older they … might decide to get some things changed … [after a] lot of consideration”. This is dangerously irresponsible advice to give to a minor, showing complete disregard to children’s physical and emotional welfare. Head teacher Billy offers all-embracing sentiments that to be “truly happy” is to accept “who you are” and that someone who “really loves you, loves you for the person you are, rather than for the outside appearance.” But surely, love should warn and reprove; to encourage children to accept harmful behaviour without question is not loving.
Teacher discussion notes involve class activities, including an art exhibition, “celebrating the beauty of diversity in all its forms (could be focused on body image).” Thus, the children would be required to celebrate all kinds of unbiblical and ungodly practices, regardless of their conscience, family or religious backgrounds.” This article is a MUST read! https://creation.com/more-than-100-genders?utm_campaign=infobytes_au&utm_content=Teaching+children+there+are+%22more+than+100+genders%22+is+not+helpful&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mailing.creation.com&utm_term=Fortnightly+Digest+-+2019.11.15
Secondly, is an ad. Yes, an ad for men’s underwear. I learned of this ad via an email from Family Voice Australia.https://familyvoice.org.au/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/mailing/view&reset=1&id=461 Now how in the world is this being used to push a ‘woke’ agenda? Here is the edited Bonds men’s underwear Christmas ad. Now what in the world do two sodomites having breakfast in their underwear have to do with Christmas? Really, nothing but it is getting a message out there to all who see it that two men in a ‘loving relationship’ is good.
Bonds is now owned by Hanes in the good ole USA. For those of my readers in Australia here is the web address to make your objection to this Bonds ad known. https://www.hanesaustralasia.com/contact-us/customer-service-enquiry/
Born again Christians need to be more vocal against sin while looking for His return. Remember, Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Mark 16:2 ‘And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.’
We celebrate Christmas because He died and rose from the dead. If the Lord Jesus had not died and had victory over the grave and death there would be no reason to celebrate His birth (CHRISTMAS).
To His disciples ‘…he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God’ Acts 1:3.
John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’
I want to thank those who are following my blog and wish you the very best for Christmas. It is Boxing day here and I am waiting to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race beginning at 1pm. May 2016 be a good year for each of you. However, do not forget the Person around which this holiday is celebrated; “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” John 1:14.
Christ’s birth without His death and resurrection will do no one any good. All are essential for man to personally know God and His salvation. Be assured the answer to ALL the problems of this old world are found in Him. We read in 1 Corinthians 15: 1- 8 “I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
Thank you for taking time to watch this presentation by our Sunday School students.
whatyareckon 