Movie: The Nativity Story

Have you seen the new movie out this season: 'The Nativity Story'? I have not yet seen it, but I intend to. The previews looked good.

The professional critics seem to be giving it a C or B-, but what do they know. Viewer's individual ratings are much higher.

I understand that the story is well told and most anyone can be drawn into the lives of Mary and Joseph during that critical time. It is also supposedly tightly aligned with scripture. Of course, it is only fitting that the most wonderful true story be told truthfully.

Hopefully, both you and I you will get to see it and be able to count it as a special part of our Christmas 2006 holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all!

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas is almost upon us once again. I wonder - is your heart full of comfort and joy? Christian and non-Christian alike may be struggling at this otherwise festive time of year. Maybe you are broke or straining under a load of debt. Maybe you're not sure how you will pay your bills come January. Are you sick, tired, depressed and discouraged? Life is often challenging at a level that seems beyond us.

There is a Christmas hymn that has a very simple reminder that may help you and I with some of these difficulties.

Verse 1
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
when we were gone astray

Refrain
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Let nothing you dismay, i.e., don't be discouraged about all those things we listed. Yea, right! How's that going to happen?

Check out the next line. Do you remember? Do you remember who that little Christmas baby is? Have the cares of this world crowded Him out of your mind and heart? There is great courage to be found in focusing on Jesus Christ - His purpose, power, love and compassion. He, like His Father, has never failed. Life, joy, peace and hope can all be found in Him. So Remember!

Unlike those who have not been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian has a new life to live. Before Christ we were certainly gone astray - living a life of slavery to the world, the flesh and the devil. Now that we are saved, we can live a new life. Even as a slave of righteousness, our hearts will bear a message of comfort and joy, and our Father who knows all of our needs, will provide.

God Bless You,
Dennis

Children of the Heavenly Father

In a recent post on Romans 8, we discussed the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Because He loves His children, He will always provide for and protect them. He has never failed and never will. At the time I wrote that, this hymn jumped into my mind and I wanted to share it with you. The words are so true and so rich. Enjoy and be edified.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

Link to the hymn melody
Link to the devotional which references this hymn

djbtol Web Site is Born

Other than blogging, I have never created a website. Until now! Now I can say that I have created a website. It's not much yet, just a start. The whole process was pretty easy over on freewebs.com. It won't cost you a cent, so I encourage to take a look at my new baby. Let me know what you think.

God Bless You,
Dennis

Iowa and the TM crowd

Today I posted elsewhere about the Transcendental Meditation (TM) practitioners and their upcoming plans in Iowa. They are planning a mass meditation in the city of Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa. The ensuing wave of positivity will have such an impact that there will be no more global strife. In the short term they would have you expect higher stock prices, lower gas prices, a 20 % reduction in U.S. crime and peaceful settlement of global issues.

That's what they say. As a Christian I can find no validity in it. They are a cult and not part of the Christian faith. They have no doings with the one and only God Almighty revealed in the Holy Scriptures. The entire effort is based on man's effort and is not able to atone for sin or even reduce the strength of sin in the heart of man.

It's kind of odd news and that's why I post it. Don't get confused.

God bless you,
Dennis