Archive for the 'Christmas' Category

Christmas is a celebration of the incarnation.  From Matthew 1:21-23: “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.  Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us’.”

It always seems to be a tactic of the detractors to charge Christians with co-opting pagan holidays and calling them their own.  This removes the joy of the Christian as he celebrates what no one else can, i.e., God becoming man.

True enough, celebrations of Santa Claus and Frosty miss the point.  But as for real celebrations of the incarnation in church history, a bit of fact telling is in order.  Don’t Google the history of Christmas.  Google will return all manner of bunk.  Here is your source.  When I studied church history, historical theology and systematic theology under Dr. C. Gregg Singer, who was one of the foremost church historians of his era, he relied heavily on Philip Schaff, “History of the Christian Church,” all 8 Volumes.  Oh, he used hundreds or thousands of other sources, some primary, some secondary.  But Schaff was the authority.  So be it for me too.

In Volume III, Schaff outlines the history of the celebration of the incarnation in the early Christian church.  I’ll let you read it for the details, but around the time of the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), where the deity of Christ and the trinity was affirmed by Athanasius and the church council conta the heretic Arius, Christmas was being celebrated by the churches as a festival of food and gifts.

If you celebrate Christmas with feasting, the giving of alms, and the giving of presents to children, you stand squarely on the shoulders of the church fathers circa two millennia ago.  Enjoy it, Remember what you’re celebrating.  Football isn’t it.  Santa Claus isn’t it.  Frosty isn’t it.

The manifestation of the deity, God with us.  That’s what you celebrate.  Do it well.  Have a great festival.

It’s good to give gifts on Christmas.  It’s also good to be given them.

At Christmas we celebrate the beginning of what the theologians call the “humiliation of Christ.”  God came to be among us in the person of His son, and humbled Himself to take on human form.  His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection all go to salvific ends for the benefit of His people.  God bless you this Christmas season, and take time to thank the Father for who He sent to save us, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  I appreciate my readers (more than you’ll ever know), and I thank God for another year of life.

Merry Christmas.  May you share love with God, reflect, give gifts to your family, and have a warm and inviting home.

It’s a wonderful season.  The wife is cooking and making gifts, it’s time to retreat from work and relax, and it’s time to remember the birth of the Christ.

If Christ was merely a good man or example for us, then there is no perfect sacrifice as a vicarious atonement for our sins.  But He was God incarnate, and thus we have a savior.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, while translated means, ‘God With us'” (Matthew 1:24, NASB).

We remember this event on which all of history turns and upon which all of history depends by giving gifts.  This isn’t necessary to remember and worship Christ, but it has become customary.  My wife honored me with this.

A 32 gun safe.  Oh, and just for good measure, she bought me another nice weapon to go inside (you’ll soon see pictures of this too).  And notice the power cord attached.  No flashlights necessary to see inside.

Merry Christmas from me and my family to you and yours.  God bless you for the new year.  Worship the new born King.

Matthew 1:21-23 (NASB)

21 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.”

22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Merry Christmas from me and my family to you and yours.

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.  Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”  [Matthew 1:21-23]

To all my readers, please enjoy this Christmas season and remember and be thankful for the greatest gift of all, God’s only son, eternal, without beginning and without end, without whom we would truly perish.

If you haven’t heard enough good Christmas music, enjoy the King’s Brass below.  All three videos are well worth the time.  I had the opportunity to play a few charts with this group when they came through my city, when original member Doug Warner was with them (the greatest trombone player I have ever known, and with whom I had the chance to play).

Matthew 1:23: “Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”

The Captain’s Journal wishes all a very Merry Christmas, from our son who is on the 26th MEU, to the U.S. Marine Corps, to all of the military, and then to our readers.  Remember those who are far away in foreign lands fighting on behalf of our country this season, and pray for peace and safety for them.  Finally, remember the reason for the season – a celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.