Annual Christmas Poem

Each year during the Christmas season, I post a Christmas poem. One of my all time favorites is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

So, without further delay... I bring you one of my all time favorite poems!


I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day!

"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!"

Merry Christmas

Calvin and Hobbes, for me, is without equal. It is the perfect cartoon, in relation to all other aspects of creation that apply, of course.

Bill Watterson captures the human condition like no other, and here again, he captures, what I believe is a sentiment we have towards God at times, if we are not careful.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! May each of you draw nearer to the Lord, Jesus Christ, this Christmas season. Blessings!

Christmas Time

When we think of Christmas we usually think of snow, presents, family and food. All of those things, while wonderful, would not be part of Christmas if it were not for God the Son. Christmas presents are suppose to remind us of the greatest gift - eternal life given by a loving God to those who believe in His only Son. As you open your gifts this Christmas morning, may each gift remind you of the greatest gift ever given.

I leave you with the truth of Christmas.

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Merry Christmas to all!