Not Interested In The Nativity?
Christmas
Watching for Jesus
Tradition
Source:
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA: A HISTORY by Penne Restad
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Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-12-06
Scripture:
Titus 2:13
Author:
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Scripture is silent on the actual date of Jesus’ birth. Various early church leaders suggested dates as early as March and as late as November. In conjunction with the celebration of the winter solstice and the pagan festival of Invictus Sol (the sun god), the early Church finally settled on celebrating the coming of the true Light of the World on December 25th.
But even if they had known the date, says University of Texas historian Penne Restad, the earliest Christians simply weren’t interested in celebrating the Nativity. “They expected the Second Coming any day," writes Restad in her 1995 book CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA: A HISTORY. To celebrate Christ’s birth would have seemed to them pointless.”
Certainly, most theologians and Christians today would not find celebrating the birth of Christ as pointless. Nevertheless, we can take a play out of the early Christians’ playbook and devote ourselves to watching for his imminent return even as we celebrate his first coming.
“…we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13).
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Traditional Turkey
Thankfulness
Tradition
Motivation
Source:
Reader's Digest November 1999, p. 85
Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-11-26
Scripture:
1 Samuel 12:24
We visited our newly married daughter, who was preparing her first Thanksgiving dinner. I noticed the turkey thawing in the kitchen sink with a dish drainer inverted over the bird. I asked why a drainer covered the turkey. Our daughter turned to my wife and said, “Mom, you always did it that way.”
“Yes,” my wife replied, “but you don’t have a cat!”
Why do you observe certain traditions? Do you participate in the holidays with an engaged consciousness of their original significance? Or, do you find yourself going through the same motions you observed while growing up? Rote tradition may satisfy our need for a connection to our childhood, or for a reassuring sense of the familiar, but this shouldn't be mistaken for a vital spirituality. Don't mindlessly perpetuate the traditions of your parents. Before you rattle off a prescribed list of blessings (for health, for home, for family, etc.) this Thanksgiving—consider them, ponder them, meditate on them. Be sure to take the time to express your humble gratitude to the One Who made them all possible.
“But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).
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We're All a Bunch of Turkeys
Tradition
Mercy
Thankfulness
Source:
MCHENRY'S STORIES FOR THE SOUL, p. 287
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Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-11-07
Scripture:
Titus 3:5
During his years in the White House, President Harry Truman began an unusual Thanksgiving tradition. Every year since, United States presidents have used the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to pardon a turkey. A preselected bird is brought into the rose Garden and the Commander in Chief grants that big bird a pardon. The saved turkey is then ushered to a Virginia farm where he is granted immunity from the carving knife.
Dr. Raymond McHenry has served as pastor of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church. He earned his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Bible Seminary. Through his books and quarterly newsletter, IN OTHER WORDS, he has become a highly respected compiler of biblical illustrative materials.
This crazy ritual always provides levity for those who watch, but it also gives each of us a great reminder. First among the many things for which we should be thankful this Thanksgiving is our own pardon. Our merits haven’t gained this favor. It is simply by God's mercy alone that we are saved.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).
Scribbled Prayers
Prayer
Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-05-29
Scripture:
Luke 18:6
; Romans 8:26
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The World Celebrated A Full Tomb
Resurrection
Easter
Contributed By:
Howard Harden | Date Posted: 2019-10-06
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