TODAY IN BETHLEHEM HEAR I -- For Just a Minute Radio Friday Dec. 24 - 101224

            Welcome to one of the last Fridays of the year…

 

            ‘Tis true – for children (and the grown-ups who are still children and cherish childhood memories) Christmas Eve has always been to me one of the most exciting days – particularly HOLIDAYS – existent.

 

            I’m sure part of it goes back to the ephemera of Santa… I don’t know quite when the realization finally dawned on me… and things fell into place… particularly and mostly I wondered about the realities of Santa being able to travel from the North Pole to all those houses and the difficulties of sliding down chimneys (especially since we only had a coal-fired, hot air, single grate furnace – if he could get down the chimney – wouldn’t he be singed … an how to get the furnace door unlatched from the inside …) finally it all became clear… just not all at one time.

 

            My brother Jimmy and I had two maiden lady aunts… one older than our Mother and the other younger. They had both followed my Mom and Dad’s migration from South Carolina to Virginia in the ‘30’s when times were really hard down here.  My Dad had abandoned teaching (South Carolina had run out of money to pay teachers and so issued its own ‘scrip’ to keep them working and able to pay the rent and buy groceries I guess.)  So he had become a civil-servant and a part of the U.S. Railway Postal system… His first assignment was Greenville to Columbia – which required them to live in Columbia for a stretch.

 

            My mother always said that summer of 1931 was the hottest she could recall.  She was carrying me…

 

            Well… I’m not going through the childhood memories… but candy cooked in the kitchen – cooled on the back porch, stuffed stockings… freshly cut cedar trees… traveling down from Blacksburg on Christmas Eve where the Sisters lived… and ducking down to hide from Santa’s vigilance so he wouldn’t forget to bring us presents even though we were up after dark… Well.. it’s all still there in the memory closets… Today’s Christmas Eve still doesn’t mount up to the peak of excitement I remember about those days. 

 

            Of course the real reason for the Season… I learned then – and it’s even more precious now… is Christ’s coming to earth *for the purpose of becoming the LAMB OF GOD – the sacrificial lamb to cleanse us from our sinful nature.*  That’s still the most important part of Christmas for which I’m thankful.

 

            The memories were great… but the realities are even greater.  I hope you can share the truths of the Bible at your house – and pray that you do.

 

            God keep you all in Good Cheer and Happiness through this season of rejoicing that the LORD has come!  Praise Be To HIM!

 

            Cordially – and with all good wishes… from our house to yours. 

 

        MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Buttrams to all our Internet Friends!

Delayed audio link:

 

http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

TODAY IN BETHLEHEM HEAR I

Just a Minute: Today I’m reading a poem dating to the 7^th century< The poet is a Christian though reared in a high ranking Muslim family. Educated by a Sicilian slave – who had been set free by his father and who subsequently became his adopted brother, The poet is St. John of Damascus – (Trans. by W.C. Dix)

Today in Bethlehem hear I

Sweet angel voices singing,

All glory be to God on high,

Who peace to earth is bringing.

The Virgin Mary holdeth more

Than highest heaven most holy:

Light shines on what was dark before,

And lifteth up the lowly.

 

God wills that peace should be on earth,

And holy exaltation:

Sweet babe, I greet Thy spotless birth,

And wondrous incarnation.

 

Today in Bethlehem hear I

Even the lowly singing;

Angel words that pierce the sky

All earth with joy is ringing.

<> Have a very Blessed Christmas --  I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

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