Thought for December 24

 History:

• 1223: Francis of Assisi assembles the first nativity scene
• 1777: Christmas Island discovered by James Cook
• 1814: Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812
• 1818: "Silent Night" written by Peter Mohr and composed by Franz Gruber
• 1851: Fire destroys 35,000 volumes in Library of Congress
• 1895: George Vanderbilt opens Biltmore House
• 1906: First broadcast of music on radio
• 1943: Eisenhower named Supreme Allied Commander
• 1968: Apollo 8 astronauts read from Genesis while circling the moon
• 1982: Chaminade [NAIA school with 850 students] beats #1 Virginia and Ralph Samson 
• Born: Kit Carson, Howard Hughes, Ava Gardner, Anthony Fauci, Paul Tagliabue, Mike Curb, Kate Spade, Jay Bilas, Ricky Martin, Gary Hauk
• Died: Vasco da Gama, William Thackeray, Johns Hopkins, Lottie Moon, John Muir, Gerard Kuiper, Peter Lawford, Norman Vincent Peale, Cheetah [Tarzan movies at age 80], Jack Klugman, Richard Adams ["Watership Down"]

Thought:

It is Christmas Eve and many are with family and friends. Many are attending services this afternoon or tonight. Some are listening to children and grandchildren ask to open presents. Well my pastor's favorite Christmas hymn is "O Holy Night." That was my father's favorite too. I have written before that on Thanksgiving night, Atlanta would gather downtown under the five story bridge that connected two building that comprised Rich's Department Store. A giant tree had been placed on top awaiting the lighting on Thanksgiving night. Choirs from schools and churches would be housed on each floor of the bridge. At the appointed time, the first floor [really the second floor] would lighten and the choir would sing. Then the next floors would open in sequence until all the choirs were visible and singing. Then, they would sing "O Holy Night" and when the crescendo was reached, the tree would light and it was Christmas time in Atlanta. They called it the "Lighting of the Great Tree."

The words to this great hymn were written in 1847 by a French wine merchant, Placide Clappeau, as a poem called "Christian Midnight" to celebrate the recent renovation of the organ in his church. The music was composed by Adolphe Charles Adam, a classical composer and pianist. The hymn was unknown until discovered and translated by John Dwight in 1855. Dwight was the son of the President of Yale University and had degrees from Harvard and Cambridge. He was ordained as a Unitarian minister but ultimately became a classical music critic and historian. He is largely responsible for introducing Beethoven to the America's. So here we have a powerful hymn written by a French wine merchant, put to music by a classical pianist, found and translated by a former Unitarian minister and music critic. Our Lord works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. Consider the last stanza:

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

        Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

        And in His name all oppression shall cease

        Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

        Let all within us praise His holy name!

        Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever

         His power and glory evermore proclaim 

Maybe this verse had even more meaning to those living in 1855 in the Unite States. But it reminds me of the Great Commission. This morning, what chains are you bearing--pain, sorrow, depression, fear, doubt, health issues, family issues. Or maybe for us in Nashville, power outages amid the severe cold. Look at Luke 4:18-19 where Jesus quotes Isaiah 61--Jesus came to preach the good news, to proclaim release to those in captivity [chains], to set free those that are oppressed [chains]. If you are struggling with chains--go to Jesus. If you have been freed from chains--praise His holy name forever! 

Merry Christmas

Larry