Thought for December 22, 2023

•  1580: After 3 years of prison and torture, Julian Hernandez is burned to death for distributing Bibles in Spain
• 1775: Continental Navy organized with 7 ships
• 1808: Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies premier
• 1882: First string of Christmas tree lights created by Thomas Edison
• 1894: U.S. Golf Association forms
• 1932: "The Mummy" with Boris Karloff released
• 1937: Lincoln Tunnel opens
• 1944: Germans demand surrender of Bastogne. General Anthony McAuliffe replies "NUTS!" The 101st Airborne holds on until relieved on January 17.
• 1967: "The Graduate" released
• 2010: Barack Obama repeals "Don't ask, don't tell" allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military
• Born: James Oglethorpe, Puccini, Connie Mack, Lady Bird Johnson, Barbara Billingsley ["Leave It to Beaver"], Gene Rayburn, Steve Carlton, Diane Sawyer, Maurice and Robin Gibb, Jan Stephenson, Ted Cruz
• Died: John Newberry [father of the children's book], Rachel Jackson, Barnett Taylor [pastor who helped preserve Richmond College, now University], Georg Eliot, Dwight L Moody, Beatrix Potter, Darryl F. Zanuck, Butterfly McQueen, Joe, Cocker, Sharon Landers

Thought:

Pastor Jay and my father both have "O Holy Night" as their favorite Christmas songs. Now Jay also said that Nat King Cole singing the "Christmas Song" was his favorite secular Christmas song. "O Holy Night" is one of mine because of the childhood memories associated with it. Rich's was the largest department store in Atlanta with two buildings downtown connected by a five story bridge. On Thanksgiving night Rich's had the "Lighting of the Great Tree" which sat atop the bridge. On each of the floors choirs were assembled and the program would start with the lowest floor lit and the choir singing carols. The streets on both sides of the bridge were packed with people [think July 4 in Nashville]. Each of the floors would be lit with associated singing. Then the united choirs would sing "O Holy Night" and when that highest note was hit, the Great Tree would burst into light. That's the moment as a child when I knew it was Christmas season. And what a blessing to have thousands of people gathered to sing the songs of Christmas.

The lyrics to this hymn were written by Placide Clappeau, a French wine merchant, in 1847 as part of his hobby of writing poems. It was written to celebrate the recent renovation of the church organ in his hometown. The music was composed by Adolphe Charles Adam, a classical pianist and composer of operas. John Dwight, a Unitarian minister and graduate of Harvard and Cambridge discovered the hymn. Dwight's father was president of Yale and wrote "I Love Thy Kingdom Lord". Dwight was a leader in making Beethoven's music popular in the U.S. and translated "Away in a Manger" into English in 1855. God used a French wine merchant, an opera composer, a Unitarian minister to give us this hymn. Amazing. 

I love the end of the second stanza--"He knows your need. To our weakness no stranger." What an encouragement. Jesus knows what we need. Jesus knows every weakness because He was tempted in every way and yet without sin. What do you need this Christmas? Some who read this are having their first Christmas without a loved one--a spouse, a parent, a friend. Something is missing. It's not the same. I need my joy restored; I need my hope rekindled; I need comfort in my loneliness. For some the excitement of Christmas has faded--children and grandchildren have grown up and it's just not the same. He knows your need. Some of us are dealing with health issues, He knows our need. Whatever your need, Jesus knows your needs. And He is all sufficient to meet every need. Maybe sing the last stanza today:

• He taught us to love one another. Let's love more this year.
• His Gospel is peace. Let us be peacemakers this year--peace with each other flowing from peace with the Lord.
• He breaks every chain--He frees every slave. Whatever has you bound up this year--He can free you. And whatever is enslaving your friends--He can free them. Tell them the good news.
• In His name all oppression shall cease. Think about that. In the name of Jesus oppression stops. Let's lift up that name is word and deed. And when He returns surely all oppression will end with the sound of the trumpet.
• Our response to Him--grateful praise of His Holy Name. Praise Him for He is Lord. And we proclaim His power and glory forever. He has the power to save,  love beyond comprehension and His is the glory forever. 

As we approach Christmas Eve, remember that the world did not know the time of His birth and the world does not know the time of His return. This may be Second Coming Eve. Proclaim His name, power and glory.

Blessings

Larry