Christmas Day 2012

Arlington Cemetery December 2012

Praque South Checkoslovakia

The tallest tree in Europe of 230 feet
in Lisbon, Portugal

Puetro Del Sol December 2012

Munaro island, Venice



Moscow December 2012

Today is that special time of the year when all families gather together wherever they can to celebrate Christmas together. Some for breakfasts, some for the main Christmas dinners, others for a barbecue tea. It is a wonderful time of the year for all true believers in the Saviour Jesus Christ, for all Christians in our western society. Mine has been a very quiet Christmas day. One son lives in Queensland but visited his wife's family in Sydney for this ocassion. An other son had to work on this day, out in the outback in the mining game. He rang with his Christmas message, a true delight. Another son has familial problems at the moment but messages were left. The fourth son but third born, is house sitting but came home for lunch. We shared a steak dinner together.  Best wishes were left on my mobile which was wonderful, a granddaughter sent her love through her father. Small things in a world of turmoil, chaos, that even at times seems devoid of love. But there is love! One of the brethren and his family from my church were going to have me for Christmas dinner. A disaster occurred when a mean neighbour belted up the family pets. His children are devastated at this vicious attack. I called it off, look after your little ones was my plea. My heart was stressed about the recent killing of a number of small children in a Connecticut school. what sort of a Christmas are the parents and friends of the deceased having? Prayers for them. Christmas trees in cities around the world, showed what many thought of Christmas. Wreaths left on cemeteries at Arlington in the USA showed another thoughtful people caring and with the true meaning of Christmas. A neice's home burnt down a couple of days ago, donations poured in to almost overwhelm her. She is married with a number of young children. Family and friends filled with the Christmas spirit had reached out when the message was broadcasted around online, by phone. For the past few days a hymn, which some years ago I always thought was a poem, has been going through my head. Henry Wardsworth Longfellow's (1807-1882) Christmas Bells. In our hymn book it is 214 minus three verses dealing with war. Here for the benefit of readers of this blog is the complete poem/hymn. I can easily liken the missing verses to our day with its wars, rumours of wars, peacekeeping forces in troubled countries, societies gone awry with troubling changes, families torn apart by jealousies, gossips, troubles, perplexities and a host of other problems. These too with cannons booming from their accursed mouths, are wars as satan does his best to destroy us all. But the last two verses of this beautiful written work spell peace, if we can only listen and hear. In our hymn book it is titled I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day. The three verses in italics are the ones not in our hymn book. A beautiful hymn and poem with John  Baptiste Calkin credited for the music.

CHRISTMAS BELLS (Henry Wardsworth Longfellow)
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 I thought how, as the day had come,
The bells of all Christendom
Had rooled 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 cannons 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 hearthstones 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!'