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2020-02-26 to 28 Pictures: Charleston, South Carolina

One of the few upsides of having to cancel our Spring Break trip last March at the onset of the pandemic is that we are "stuck" with a rather large voucher from one of those discount airlines. Last autumn, Tricia and I spent a weekend in Savannah, Georgia and had a...

A John 3:16 Craft for Kids

John 3:16 is one of the most well known and reassuring verses in the Bible. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16 (NIV) The following is a little craft I threw...

2020-03-01 Pictures: Lyndsey’s College Signing Day

This afternoon Lyndsey made it official, signing her letter of intent to play college basketball for the Hiram College Terriers starting next year. While she made the decision and committed to Hiram before Christmas, she has been looking forward to this day since her...

2020-02-13 Pictures: Lyndsey’s 18th Birthday

I am little behind on posting photos. These are some of my favorites from a couple of weekends ago when we got a chance to celebrate Lyndsey's 18th birthday. It's hard to believe that my little girl is officially an adult. It was nice to have the family all back...

What is DOCTRINE?

Introduction I love working with kids, and I love teaching them hard concepts in ways they can understand. To that end, for years I have been working on a dictionary of theological terms for kids and teens. In sharing those definitions, there seemed no better place to...

If You Want It Done Right

In all likelihood, you know how the phrase ends: If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF! This is a bit of a mantra for me, and frankly, something that I struggle with daily both in leadership and in my Christian walk.  In theory, this is easy to accept. ...

What Does God Hate?

This is the little and humble post that started it all. I happened to be reading through my Bible, and this passage impacted me so much that I posted a little blurb about it on Facebook. That was July 28, 2008, and I've been writing and sharing ever since. (Maybe...

Hope’s Song (December 2)

Dec2

To view the entire 2011 Christmas Carol Advent check out our Christmas Carol Advent index page.

Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klUumz5xRPo

Story Behind the Song

This song, originally recorded by Rebecca St. James, was written for and included in the Veggietales movie An Easter Carol in 2004. The song tells the story of the birth, life, death burial and resurrection of Christ.

Commentary & Analysis

I have been a fan of Veggietales for a long time. It may seem like a stretch to include a song from their Easter special in this Christmas Carol Advent, but I think the first line really sums up what all Christians need to remember about Christmas:

“There’s a story that started on Christmas…”

Christmas is not the end of the story. It is a bit of a misnomer to call it the beginning of the story too because the story really starts before Genesis 1:1, but it is the start of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It is the beginning of the human part of God’s ultimate plan of redemption.

Many churches speak of “C&E Christians.” Those are people who claim to go to church but really only show up on Christmas and Easter. In fact, we should all be C&E Christians at Christmastime. Neither would have happened without the other. If God has not condescended himself and given up His thrown to come and live amongst his people as a baby, then He never would have grown up to die on a cross and be resurrected for my sins. If He had never died and risen, Christmas would have been merely an experiment in being human. The whole plan falls apart if not for Christmas and Easter, and we should take time this holiday season to remember both. This song will help you to do just that.

Questions for Further Reflection / Devotion

  1. Why do you believe Christmas has become such a highly celebrated time in our culture while Easter has not?
  2. How do you and your family recognize Easter in your Christmastime celebrations and traditions?
  3. Part of this songs says, “He laughed and he cried.” There are some people who believe that Jesus never cried as a baby (and certain Christmas songs which profess the same). The Bible is clear that Jesus wept later in life. Do you believe he cried as a child? If so, why would that be important?
  4. The Bible tells us very little about Jesus between the time He was a baby and the beginning of His ministry. What do you think Jesus’ early years might have been like?
  5. What can you do differently this year to incorporate the cross into your family’s Christmas celebration?

Lyrics

There’s a story that started on Christmas
When a baby was born in the night
And those who came far, who followed the star
Were seeing a heavenly sight …
a heavenly sight.

Well the years hurried by, and the boy, now a man
Could make the blind see with a touch of his hand
He was born to be King — he was Rabbi and Priest
But the best that he had, he gave to the least …
He gave to the least.

He was born and he died, almost 2,000 years ago
He laughed and he cried, he felt all the fears we know
But what does it matter? A story so strange …
Even if it is true, what does it change?
What does it change?

Well he spoke like a prophet — like no one they’d heard
This simple young carpenter — crowds hung on every word
He hated injustice — He taught what is right
He said “I’m the way, and the truth, and the light.”

His friends soon believed that truly he was the one.
The Savior, Messiah, God’s one and only son.
But others, they doubted, they did not agree
So they took him, they tried him,
He died on a tree …
He died on a tree.

God has made a way
for all who mourn and grieve
Death will never be the end
if you just believe.

There is nothing left to fear
nothing Heaven knows
For he died for us to give us life
and to give us hope He rose
He died for us to give us life
And to give us hope He rose.

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