And the Word Became Flesh...

Claus it's Christmas?

driving around town....

since my H-E-B "happy holidays" post, i have become obsessed! first observation is that many merchants and businesses avoid the issue by not displaying anything. there seem to be less "greetings" this year.
let's hear it for MEMORIAL SELF STORAGE, 1890 s. walnut, a double-sided "Jesus" and "Christmas" greeting. yeah! call the folks there (the number is on the sign)and express your gratitude for their boldness in greeting us appropriately this Christmas. by the way, how many "Jesus is the reason for the season" greetings have you seen this year?
Unfortunately, can't say much for the NB Chamber of Commerce. All they could muster was a lukewarm "Seasons' Greetings". Can't offend their members, i suppose.
give them a call and ask them what happened to "Christmas" and "Jesus" this year?

just wondering...

why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?
When they ship styrofoam, what do they pack it in?

Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?
Is it OK to use the AM radio after noon?

Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?
Why do people who know the least know it the loudest?
When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

The Twelve Days of Christmas

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" seems like a whimsical song of rhyming nonsense. However, it was written for a very serious meaning. Catholics in England during the period of 1558 to 1829 were prohibited from ANY practice of the faith by law. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written to help them learn about their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid.
The "true love" refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

The other symbols mean the following:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds = the four Gospels
5 Golden Rings = The first five books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch)
6 Geese a-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans a-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8 Maids a-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords a leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

youtube peanuts what is christmas about - Google Video#

youtube peanuts what is christmas about - Google Video#

Happy Holidays?

what does "H.E.B." stand for? "hope everyone buys" so don't offend anyone?
i don't know why this sign bothers me so much each day that i pass it as i am taking children to middle school. maybe it's because of what HEB (or at least the Butt family) once contended that they "stood for", but no more: now it's liquor, lottery, and liberalism.
bah humbug!
am i out of line?

Ministry Opportunity -- Juguetes para Ninos de Mexico

did you see Karen Silos' email? did you hear the announcement in sunday morning Bible study? Joel is headed to Mexico soon and would like to take a load of new or gently used TOYS to distribute while there. this is a great opportunity to put smiles on the faces of mijos y mijas with very little effort. Giving: now there's a unique concept at Christmas time. Contact Karen: her information is in her email or we can take the toys by the church office but make contact. Thanks.

Cell phone vs. Bible

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we:
-carried it around in our purses or pockets?
-flipped through it several times a day?
-turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
-used it to receive messages from the text?
-treated it like we couldn't live without it?

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

three questions -- cats

just finished feeding my cats and as i observed and pondered their behavior, three questions come to mind:
1) why don't they make a mouse-flavored cat food?
2) if you throw your cat out of the car window while driving, does he become "kitty litter"?
3) since dropped toast always lands on the floor buttered side down, and since dropped cats always land on their feet, what would happen if you strapped a slice of buttered toast on a cat's back, and threw the cat off the roof: which way would he land?
just wondering...

I was just wondering why....

i was just wondering why material sent by railroad car is called a "shipment". and material sent by ship is called "cargo"?

no good deed...

well, i was at the post office the other day, and you know how crazy that is getting this time of year. i was standing in line when an elderly gentleman came up to me with a Christmas card in his hand along with a pen and a stamp. he asked me if i could address the card for him as his arthritis was acting up. i really didn't want to or have time but i said sure; after all it is the time of year to be nice to each other. so i started addressing the card as he dictated the address. then as i was finishing the address, he asked me if i would mind writing the message on the card as well. i thought to myself: might as well, i now have lost my place in line. so i laboriously wrote the message as he kept changing it while i was trying to write it but we finally got it done. then he asked if i would might putting the stamp on the envelope, which i did. at this point, my patience, which is not the best in the best of circumstances, was wearing thin. so i kind of scarcastically asked if there was anything else i could do for him. he replied: "would you mine adding a p.s. at the end of the message, to 'please excuse the messy handwriting'".

Ministry Opportunity -- Want to Go in Spirit and Support on a Mission Trip to Africa?

Gayla Baxter announced in sunday bible study that she is being led to go to Senegal, Africa, January 6-20, 2009, on a mission trip, with Akiko Martin and others (where Akiko's daughter, Michelle, is serving as a missionary).
Gayla asked for our prayers before and during her trip for details to go smoothly and safe passage and prepared hearts of the people there and the people going.
Gayla also asked us to pray about becoming a financial partner in this mission. Contact Gayla if the Lord leads you to be more than a prayer partner concerning this venture. matter of fact, either way, contact Gayla and encourage and exort her in this endeavor and let her know that you are praying daily for her efforts. opportunity to touch lives where we may never get to go personally. opportunity to store up treasure in heaven for eternity. opportunity to be obedient to Jesus' last recorded words on earth before his ascension into heaven. Acts 1:8 (keynote verse in our acts study):
"you shall be WITNESSES of me....to all parts of the world". opportunity to be a part of the "all parts"...
Contact Info
Gayla Baxter
660-0143
511 Spring Hollow
New Braunfels, Tx 78132
Heb12_2@hotmail.com

Pearl Harbor Anniversary -- 67 years ago today

i forgot to mention this in class today. On December 7 , 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Oahu Hawaii causing the United States to declare war on Japan during World War II. There are still people alive on the planet who were there that day. here is the partial text of the speech the following day from President Roosevelt to Congress. I believe the use of the word "infamy" in the speech is the only place i have seen this word used during my life. you can listen to the speech on youtube.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S PEARL HARBOR SPEECH (partial)
(December 8, 1941)
To the Congress of the United States:
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.....
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Highlights of Acts Chs 1-5 -- Review

let's take a look at the highlights of the first five chapters of our acts bible study:
Chapter One:
vv 4-5 -- Promise of the Coming of the Holy Spirit;
v 8 -- keynote verse for book of acts: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me, in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
note the progression from near to far; we have a personal responsibility to be involved in some manner in both the near and the far and in between (witnessing in words and deeds, in our attitudes and our actions, in support, financially and through encouragement of others, and in prayer. also note that this is the historical progression in acts as well as to how the gospel spread: from near to far. draw a little "key" next to this verse in your bible;
vv 9-11 -- Ascension of Jesus to Heaven -- witnessed so they could witness;
vv 21-26 -- Appointment of replacement twelfth apostle, Matthias;
Chapter Two:
vv 1-13 -- the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost;
vv 14-41 -- Peter's Pentecostal Preaching;
vv 42-47 -- Description of Early Church Characteristics;
Chapter Three:
vv 1-10 -- healing of the lame man by Peter;
vv 11-26 -- Peter's Porch Preaching;
Chapter Four:
vv 1-7 -- Persecution;
vv 8-12 -- Peter's Persecution Preaching;
note v12: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given amoung men by which we must be saved." (ties in with John 14:6);
vv 13-21 -- Perplexed Persecutors;
vv 23-31 -- Prayer Meeting: for Boldness in speaking the word -- filled with the Holy Spirit;
vv 32-37 -- Church Characteristics;
Chapter Five:
vv 1-11 -- Ananias & Sapphira -- Lying to Holy Spirit -- Testing, Trying Holy Spirit;
vv 12-16 -- Healing Signs and Wonders'
vv 17-28 -- Persecution Persists;
vv 29-32 -- Peter's Persistent Preaching;
vv 33-40 -- Wise Counsel to the Council -- Gamaliel
vv 41-42 -- Response to Persecution -- REJOICING and daily PREACHING & TEACHING;

last will and testament -- walmart

had an elderly lady come to my office about doing her will. she had two requests. she wanted to be cremated and she wanted her ashes spread at the wal-mart store. when i asked her why at wal-mart, she replied: "then i will be sure that my daughters will visit me at least twice a week".

Death by Gift Certificate

Death by Gift Certificate CLICK on this line "Death..." to read.

Looking Back -- Acts Chs 1-5 -- What have we learned?

sunday bible class:
we have now completed five chapters in our study of the book of acts. what have we learned? what have you learned? SHARE YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE, WITH OTHERS. CLICK ON "COMMENTS" BELOW.

New Diet didn't work out

carri thought i may have been gaining a few pounds lately, so she suggested that i try a new diet that she had come across. i told her i would be responsible for getting the ingredients for the recipes if she would prepare the meals. so i made note of everything we needed as the diet plan had very specific recipes for each meal of the day. i started on the plan, and followed the recipes. i thought that the diet was really going great because i never even felt hungry. but when i weighed in after a few weeks, it turns out that i had gained even more weight. so carri checked the recipe instructions again, and there at the bottom of the page, in fine print, was the following statement: "serves 6"

application: it pays to pay attention to the details and don't forget your reading glasses.

Dolphin Stress Test

Dolphin Stress Test CLICK on "dolphin stress test" on this line.

101 Things Husbands do to Annoy their Wives

hey guys: i'm alerting you to a book by ray comfort that sells us out. ray catalogues all those stereotypes that may be true for some husbands in isolated cases but certainly not any of us. just thought you should get a "heads up" in the event this piece of propaganda shows up in your home. i am providing some representative samples from the table of contents so that you can see what we are up against: "doesn't listen" - "says 'yes dear'" - won't ask for directions" - "leaves off bread ties" - "says 'get to the point'" - "leaves toilet seat up" - "takes 'short cuts'" - "dominates tv remote" - "channel surfs" - "drives too fast" - "drives too close" - "can't find things" - "falls asleep watching tv" - "open-mouth snoring"

Sunday Morning Bible Study -- for Dec 7th

didn't tom taylor do a wonderful job leading the lesson the past two sundays? tom is now an expert on Acts Ch 5. how many chapters does that leave? oh well, it's a start. seriously, i appreciate his diligent study of the word and willingness to lead us in our study.
this coming sunday, read Acts Ch 6, focusing on vv 1-8. we are beginning a two chapter study (chs 6-7) that introduces stephen.
outline of stephen: from "waiting tables" to a "witnessing testimony"
the man
the ministry
the message
the martyr
in the focal verses for this sunday (acts 6:1-8), look for the following:
Q what was the conflict that arose in the church?
Q who did the conflict involve?
Q how did the apostles demonstrate leadership concerning this conflict?
Q what solution did the apostles propose to the congregation?
Q what was the congregation's response to the apostles' proposed solution?
Q how was the conflict resolved? what was the result?
Q what four things was stephen "full of"? (vv 3, 8)
Q what principles can we identify and what applications can we make from the manner in which the apostles handled this issue?
see you sunday.
zenas
ps we still need a nickname for waymer. carri's submission of "J-Way" seems to have the inside track at this time based on informal polls. log onto the "comments" section of the waymer post and enter your submission, if you dare. there will be a vote once we can find enough people that care to make a quorum.