I heard the bells

[MBTcustom]

Gentilmen, think I posted this last year about this time, and for the same reason. It has never been so pertinent.
Tonight, I believe my heart was firmly set in the belief that "there is no peace on earth". I was in chat, and I ended up exchanging phone numbers with another member here. I wasted no time in calling this person as it was obvious we were singing to the same song sheet (although he was a few verses ahead of me).

To be honest, I have not been in the Christmas spirit this year. There is so much trouble, and the meaning of Christmas has never been so watered down that I can remember. It hurts to see the message of Christmas reduced to a story about a jolly fat delivery guy.
My local radio stations have a problem with mentioning the name of Jesus Christ, or giving any reference to Him as having come to earth, to be born in a goat barn, so that redemption could be had by all those who accept Him as Lord.
There is nothing but trouble and misery, and the more miserable people are, the less they want to hear about this absolutely life changing event. The less they want to hear about the saving power of Jesus Christ. The less they want to hear that His word is alive and powerful, and as pertinent today as it was 2000 years ago.
That all changed when I spoke to this person tonight. We didn't talk about Christmas except to exchange a hearty "Merry Christmas!" at the end of our conversation.
Our conversation was about the Lord, and about his power in our lives, and strangely, when we had said our goodbyes, I was filled with Christmas joy, and goodwill.
He doesn't know it, but I was in tears by the time our conversation was over and this is the song that was resounding in my heart like it does every year:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

I hope this Christmas fills you to overflowing, and gives you renewed power to do right by your fellow man in the new year. Please remember what was done for you, and let it give you strength to forgive the people who are closest to you, and perhaps even to drink a toast with your enemies, and wish them well, if only for one day.
On the night that Mary brought the Savior into the world, God himself became flesh, and made himself small and helpless so that forgiveness could be given to us, and allowed his Son to be born in the house of his enemies.
How can a quarrel that exists between mere men like us, hold any meaning in contrast to that supreme expression of piece?

It is well with my soul tonight, because I heard the bells.

God bless every one of you, and Merry Christmas!

[jcwit]

Last nite 12-13-13 the wife & went to our Granddaughter's Jr. & High School Christmas music program, I usually do not like to attend these but feel obligated to as after all it is my granddaughter up there on stage. I fully expected to see little to no mention to the reason for the season as this is also a liberal college town.

Well lo & behold, There were Christian Christmas Hymns through out the program along with the regular secular songs like Jingle Bells. They even ended the program with Silent Night.

I should add my biggest problem with these programs is my lack of hearing and being able to understand the words, but of course that's not their fault.

[Blammer]

We have pleanty of gospel radio stations around here, find of of them and listen to it.

[DLCTEX]

Merry Christmas to all!

[Sweetpea]

Dang it, Tim...

You've got my vision all blurry again!

Christ IS the reason for the season, we've done our level best to teach our kids that.

Teachers have sent home notes about my son telling other kids that santa isn't real... I kept waiting for the fight that would come if they tried to discipline him over it...

Brandon

[exile]

Before you get too down (and I do understand where you are coming from), think about the circumstances of our Lord's birth...

1. Israel occupied by a godless foreign power.

2. Forced to travel a long distance for a census.

3. Mary pregnant in a way that her husband, friends and family could not understand.

4. No lodging for a young pregnant wife, the Son of God born in a filthy barn.

5. The baby King hounded by unbelieving officials bent on His death.

Yet from all that horrible beginning God wrought hope and salvation, eternal life in His Son for all who would receive Him.

Believe it or not, I'm a pessimist and something of a Scrooge around the holidays, but I repeat, look what God has done for us in Christ. Wow!

Hope you all have a good Christ-mas season. Take care.

exile

[smoked turkey]

Tim, all of us get over whelmed and depressed from time to time as we see how things have come to be in our world. I never thought that our great nation founded on God and Godly principals would turn so radically against the One who was born, lived, and died as the perfect Lamb so that sinners like me and you could be redeemed from a life of slavery to sin. But I believe we feel this way because we are not of this world. We are pilgrims passing through. We are like Abraham who was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. My friend we must endure until the end. You are not alone in your feelings about the commercialism of the season. Keep your light shinning. You do us all good here Tim and I am proud to know you and be a part of this great site. Merry Christmas to all!

[MBTcustom]

I get the feeling you guys are missing the triumphant punch line!

[wv109323]

Tim, I am also amazed how fast that America is falling away from God and thus the true meaning of Christmas. The economics of selling has overshadowed the season we take to celebrate our Savoir's birth. But remember that what is happening was prophetic in the Bible. We are just eye witnesses to what the Bible has told us was going to happen. The Bible says "these things must come to pass". Though as Christians we can see what is happening and know the consequences, the worldly carnal mind can not.
With what is happening, and at the rate it is happening, all I can say is hold to God's hand tighter than before.

[MT Gianni]

Soon after the day that Fort Sumner was shelled starting the Civil War Edith Longfellow was lighting some candles. Her nightgown started on fire. This was before inside plumbing and the only water would have been in the kitchen. She ran to the next room where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, her husband tried to put out the flaming nightgown by beating on it with a small rug. He was successful but she died a few days later from complications. His oldest son died in the early months of the war. He was in a two year funk, basically walking dazed when he had the experience that caused him to write "I heard the bells". He realized that God is not dead nor doth he sleep.
Thanks, Tim.

[Bzcraig]

In spite of life circumstances and our view of it......you're absolutely right Tim! Merry CHRISTmas my brother and thanks for sharing your heart. I really celebrate our Savior in some way nearly every day; reading my Bible, my job (police chaplain), Bible study, etc. so it is hard for me to get motivated for this holiday. Then I read your post, it motivated me bro! Thank you!

[MBTcustom]

The thing that struck me suddenly, is that we get all wrapped around the axle trying to keep God (and Christmas) from being destroyed. The opposition works so hard to remove Jesus from our history, from our present, and from our future, and inadvertently, we buy the same foolishness that they do.
Jesus does not, nor has ever, needed to be defended. He is the way the truth and the life.
There is no "if"
There is no "and"
There is no "but"
That is a clear and pertinent fact, that just is weather we want it to be or not. That's the beauty of Christmas and of Christianity.
One thing I can guaranty you: Christmas is here to stay till the bitter end, because as long as there are good men who love joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control, the virgin birth will never be forgotten, nor lose it's power and meaning. It's the only thing that gives us the perspective to turn the other cheek, and when we do fight, to be effective adversaries.
God isn't going anywhere, and neither is Christmas, and if I were the last man on earth who knew the truth of what was done for us on that night, it wouldn't change the truth of that evening.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

[MBTcustom]

http://www.history.com/topics/christmas-truce-of-1914
During World War I, on and around Christmas Day 1914, the sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front in favor of holiday celebrations in the trenches and gestures of goodwill between enemies.
Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines, and at certain points the Allied soldiers even heard brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing.

At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man's-land, calling out "Merry Christmas" in their enemies' native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.

Some soldiers used this short-lived ceasefire for a more somber task: the retrieval of the bodies of fellow combatants who had fallen within the no-man's land between the lines.

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers' threats of disciplinary action—but it served as heartening proof, however brief, that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers' essential humanity endured.

During World War I, the soldiers on the Western Front did not expect to celebrate on the battlefield, but even a world war could not destory the Christmas spirit.

[jcwit]

goodsteel you are correct that there never was a truce of any major signifince again, however there was a small one during WW2 affecting 8 to 10 people. Here is a link to the story.

God Bless and a Merry Christmas to all here at Castboolits.

[MBTcustom]

No link Jon.

[WILCO]

No link Jon.

I think this is what Jon wrote of:

http://unnamedharald.hubpages.com/hub/About-World-War-2-A-Small-Christmas-Truce

[jcwit]

DUH!!!!

Yup that's the one, I forgot to paste it.

Getting old, see what you guys got to look forward to, regardless of the Bacon fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WILCO]

DUH!!!!

Yup that's the one, I forgot to paste it.

No worries Jon. You gave enough info that it was easy to find.

[smoked turkey]

Thanks for this thread. These stories are very touching and give "Peace On Earth" a very deep meaning. It seems that Christmas tends to take the edge off some people and helps to bring us together. I love this time of year.

[popper]

As long as we believers don't forget & get wrapped around the axle, who cares what the media, retailers & POTUS (***) say!

[JeffinNZ]

You'll be a long time waiting for peace on earth Tim because there will always be someone who is happy to try and force others to their way of thinking.

[TXGunNut]

I've studied enough history to be a bit pessimistic about peace on earth. I've spent enough time on the financial pages to know that many businesses depend on holiday shopping to make it thru their fiscal year. I read enough of the news that I've gotten weary of "political correctness", whatever that means. When all this weighs me down this time of year the simple story found in the first 20 verses on the 2nd chapter of Luke brings me back.
We've been thru worse, we'll see worse, but as long as we remember the reason for the season we have hope and will prevail.

[Harter66]

Tim ,
I've heard your message in your 3 Headline posts which are very rare for you.
3 times this week you have made positive happy feeling good seeing the grace of God posts and nearly every responce has grown more and more negitive.

Well ya know what ? I woke up this morning saw an amazing hi cloud low cloud sunrise. I've got my health my Grands and kids and parents are healthy,my GF is a little under the weather but the sniffle will pass. The cats haven't fought in almost 2 days. The bills are all current, the freezer and pantry are about 75% full,I'm still working,nobody's done anything stupid or blown anything up at work.

FOR GODs SAKE FOLKS ITs CHRIST MAS TIME MERRY CHRIST MAS rub a little sunshine on your cranky miserable butts and look for something positive there's plenty , if you're reading this ya ain't pushing up daisies so it ain't all bad.

[jaysouth]

We are redoing Christmas this year. The highlight will be Christmas eve service, then the Christmas day morning services. We will have dinner later with everyone dressing up. The Tree is a real one and all presents exchanged are made at home by hand of the donor. My brother in law is a lay preacher and a gifted speaker. He will start dinner with a five minute service and prayer. To double down on the special nature of the day, my wife hired a maid to serve dinner and clean up, at least that's the reason she used.



We hope to start a new tradition for benefit of the children and re-inforce the special nature of the day. The amount of gifts we gave in the past escalated out of control. Now we are going to focus on the reason for the day and fellowship of family.

[MBTcustom]

I've studied enough history to be a bit pessimistic about peace on earth. I've spent enough time on the financial pages to know that many businesses depend on holiday shopping to make it thru their fiscal year. I read enough of the news that I've gotten weary of "political correctness", whatever that means. When all this weighs me down this time of year the simple story found in the first 20 verses on the 2nd chapter of Luke brings me back.
We've been thru worse, we'll see worse, but as long as we remember the reason for the season we have hope and will prevail.

I know exactly what you mean, but you know, Having trouble with people or government is tough, but having trouble with God is unbearable.
And mark my words, we do have trouble with God. Terrible trouble. Trouble we cant fix, sins that are unforgivable.
The logical answer was for God to look into the future, and see everything mankind has done and will do against Him, and just rake us into the trash can and start over from scratch. Had I been the Creator, I do believe that's what I would have done, and I have proven it on several occasions when I destroyed 40+ hours of work because it was substandard.
And yet.....
On that day....
God chose to lay down in the mud next to us. He sent his son in the most delicate and vulnerable fashion possible to reclaim us. The most inconceivable thing. The love there was staggering. God chose to make peace with us, and still does every day.
That's the peace that I am talking about. Not peace between men, because that's an impossible concept, but peace with God (even more impossible, yet realized all the same.)

While people were busily living their lives, fighting their wars, and struggling to survive, all the while plagued by the gnawing reality that we are not doing this right and how could God abide with this any longer There in a stall, God gave his answer once and for all. What happened was so significant, and so wrong that it couldn't be ignored, and the angles themselves appeared to the local shepherds to tell them what had just happened, because the Son of God just can't be born in a stable and overlooked!!!
Look now at where we are today. People are busily living their lives, fighting their wars, and struggling to survive, all the while plagued with the gnawing reality that we are not doing this right! and we ask: how could God let this go any longer?!? After all, Christmas has been turned into a money making racket, America has turned it's back on Gods chosen people, and on God Himself!!! We are surely to be cursed by God!

Ahem:

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

It is a wondrous thing, and that's what Christmas is all about. Peace towards men.
I am glad to know that no matter how bad it get's, God will never give up on us, and any man who wants to know the piece of God has only to ask, and the meaning of Christmas will overflow his heart forever.

Merry Christmas!!!!

[MtGun44]

Merry Christ-Mass to you, too, Tim. Folks forget what the Holy-Day is all about.

Praying for peace on earth, and trying hard to have good will towards men.

Bill

[North_of_60]

Thanks Tim and all the rest of you. I tend get a little down this time time of the year too. I needed that reminder that:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

I know in my heart its true but I have a hard time living like its true.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all of you.

Al

[Wayne Smith]

The thing we must remember through all our experiences and feelings is simple; God is in charge. I may not understand nor appreciate in my limited awareness His choices, but His is in charge.

Thanks for posting that, Tim. Probably my favorite Carol, but you added two verses usually redacted. I appreciate the original version, but then I appreciate history, too.

[MBTcustom]

Christmas is almost here!
Joy to the world, and on earth, peice good will towards men!!!
We have only one or two presents for each other this year, but on Christmas morning we are going to sing!
This is one Christmas that we will not soon forget.

[MBTcustom]

Christmas is only six days away!
Consider the words in this popular Christmas hymn:

O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging,
Watch o'er the eve of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error, longing
For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was Born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored.

O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard.

The Son of God lay thus within lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our Lord.

He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Long live His truth, and may it last forever,
For in His name all discordant noise shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

[popper]

Tim - I heard a radio program the other day about where most of the carol/songs came from. Very enlightening as to the reason for them. There are places in the world where a kid would be happy to get a lump of coal. It originally was intended as a welcomed gift - not for 'naughty list' kids.

[Freightman]

Consider this! the pagan brings sacrifices to his god! The Christian receives sacrifice from his GOD! Praise God in all His glory!

[popper]

Tim - had a good chat with mom today. At 94 she is still a peacenik. Then got this email from a friend.
A Little Patriotic History
Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing "God Bless America" on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.
Here are the facts...
The link at the bottom will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of "GOD BLESS AMERICA". But before you watch it, you should also know the story behind the first public showing of the song.
The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we'd have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.
This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith.
Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time.
Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring . She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote "White Christmas") and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her.
He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before - way back in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America. Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.
This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, "You're In The Army Now." At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it's Ronald Reagan.
To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry..... and for many generations of Americans to follow. Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you'll enjoy it and treasure it even more.
Many people don't know there's a lead in to the song since it usually starts with "God Bless America....." So here's the entire song as originally sung.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=TnQDW-NMaRs#!
Merry Christmas to all.

[MBTcustom]

We just had Christmas dinner (sigh).
It was very good.
We usually go out on Christmas eve and buy a roast beef from the local market, bring it home, prepare it, and eat it. This year we were planning on forgoing the roast beef on account of tight finances not allowing.
Well last week, I had a friend and Brother come by and show me his new rifle. I set the scope for him and he insisted on paying me for my time, but he also asked me if I know anybody who needs to buy a half a cow? I told him I didn't need a half a cow, but if he could give me a roast instead of the money, then I sure would appreciate it. He insisted that I keep the money, and the next day, he brought me the roast and insisted that I take it too.

Merry Christmas from the Malcolm home, to each and every one of you from Tim, Angie, and Natalie.
May the Lord richly bless you this Christmas and may the Piece of the Lord fill your hearts and minds to overflowing tomorrow!
Joy to the world!!!!!!!!!!!!

91512

[bearcove]

Merry Christmas Tim, Angie, and Natalie.

And a happy new year!

Take care of you and yours, Brother!

[jcwit]

See, Things usually work out.

Nice looking family there.

Merry Christmas to you and your's