The Christmas Story

Opening:
I have a few facts about December and a story that has a nice meaning. I have titled this talk "The Christmas Story" A received a couple emails this year!

- Some one wrote, Christmas is the time when people put so many bulbs on the outside of their houses, you don't know if they're celebrating Jesus or General Electric.
- What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman? Frostbite
- Why was Santa's little helper depressed? Because he had low elf esteem.

Body:
Party time! Eat drink and be merry, right? That’s what the bible says? The Old Testament book [Ecclesiastes (Wisdom Literature) 8:15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.] Celebration, party and festivals, traditionally that’s been the pagan Christmas.

When Christian Christmas was originally instituted, December 25 was a pagan festival. Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. The start of the solar year, a celebration of Light and the birthday of the "Invincible Sun" one of the Roman Gods.

In pagan Scandinavia the winter festival was the Yule (or juul). Great Yule logs were burned, and people drank mead around the bonfires listening to poets singing ancient legends. It was believed that the Yule log had the magical effect of helping the sun to shine more brightly. The Winter Solstice included ancient Rome's feast of Saturnalia. A week long party and visiting that honored the god of agriculture, Saturn.

The Christmas tree is said to have originated from 2 Christian symbols found in Christian homes. The first the "Paradise tree" an evergreen in which we hung apples to represent the tree of life from the garden of Eden. The second the "Christmas Pyramid" which was a triangular shelf that held figurines and decorated with a star. By about the 16th century the had been combined to make the Christmas tree.

Santa Claus is no fairy tale. There was a real Santa Claus, this name is a form of the Dutch "Sinter Klass" which in turn means St. Nicholas. Nicholas was a Christian Bishop of Myra in the fourth century. He had a heart for the children and past out gifts to them on Christmas eve.

Speaking of gifts, I remember hearing one of the kids say "I know. I know. I know that people say "It's the thought that counts, not the gift", but couldn't people think a little bigger"

Around 350 AD, December 25 was adopted in Rome and gradually almost the entire Christian Church agreed to that date, this coincided with pagan festivals. Christ was probably not born in winter but this became a good time to have a rival celebration to the pagan festivals.

To Christians the meaning of Christmas comes right from Gospel of Luke 2:14. It’s when the angels came singing about "Peace on Earth & Good will towards men" and the birth of Christ. Everybody knows the song "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" glory to the new born king. (Shall we sing. Hark the Herald - NOT) This

Luke 2:9-15, And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10, Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12, "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." (NKJ)

Good will towards men. This brings me to a story that sums up the Christmas message for me. Many of you may have already heard it, its about Bryan and his "good will toward women."

Story
The Good Will of Bryan

You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even what he could see, he could tell she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her fancy Mercedes and got out of his 78 Pontiac and approached her. Even with his big honest smile, she was worried. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he kind of looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold, a chill that only fear can put in you.

He said, "I'm here to help you ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm, I will change your tire? By the way, my name is Bryan." Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Getting a bit dirty he was able to change the tire. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he packed the tools and closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She had already imagined all the awful things and she was wealthy.

Bryan never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance. Bryan added "and think of this day". She started her car and drove off. Bryan felt good as he headed for home.

A few miles down the road the old lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the old lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress noticed something written on the napkin under which was 4 $100 bills. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote.

It said: "You don't owe me anything, I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you can do: Do not let this chain of good will end with you." That night when she got home late from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be all right; I love you, Bryan."

Closing:
Part of that message is to give freely "Good will towards men" Now the angels sung about Gods good will towards men but we are told to model God. The other point I want to make is that you are always rewarded for your good will, just don’t look for it, for it will come. Maybe in the form like in the story through someone else, someone you love will get blessed or maybe even in a different week or month. Good will is always rewarded. I would like to encourage you to have that good will attitude not only during this season but everyday of the year.

May God richly bless you and your loved one this Christmas season.