5 Christmas Myths That Some May Thought Were in the Bible, But Aren't.

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As you gather with family and friends for Christmas celebrations, here are some fun conversation facts to tell everyone! In a previous post (see here) I talked about 3 Things You Thought The Bible Says About Christmas, But It Doesn't. Here I have 5 more myths that some may think that are taught in the Bible but really are not.

One Amazing Idea Every Christian Should do for Christmas (Plus 8 Secret Tools Creative People Use to Be Creative!)

How can one be a follower of Christ without a desire to tell others the Gospel? I don't really know. However, you know how it is, many people don’t like to hear the Gospel. But one time in the year most are not only okay with hearing the Gospel, but expect it!
Check out your contact list for an opportunity to express Christ through your cards, letters, family pictures or gifts. A picture of Santa or a tree is a waist stamp, card and envelope.

Search for cards with powerful messages. Since they can be hard to come by, you may want something special, make them yourself! Don't worry if you are not creative. That's why this post was written! I would like to give you some ideas that creative people use to be creative (not just with cards but with all things in life). Plus I want to give you ideas for the card content.

My Top 4 Most Popular Posts of 2014 (And What I Learned from Them)

At the end of the 2014 year, I have pulled together my top 4 blog posts from ibitedge.blogspot.com. I think it is important to think about these topics again, both for the content and the reasons many may have wanted to read the posts. As a blogger, I need to be sensitive to the needs of the reader, trying to both inform and arm you with interesting and important ideas that will help you in your interactions. I think I can also learn things from them as a blogger. Feel free to check out my thoughts and posts!

1) WRONG! How to raise a rebel or an atheist (don't do these things if you want your progeny to be Christian). http://ibitedge.blogspot.com/2014/08/wrong.html

Concerned parents and teachers want to teach their children and students to know and understand truth. This post gives ideas of things not to do - it's full of sarcasm!

2) 3 Things You Thought The Bible Says About Christmas, But It Doesn't. The Bible never says that Jesus was born in a stable, the angels sang or that there were three wise men. http://ibitedge.blogspot.com/2014/12/3-things-you-thought-bible-says-about.html

Simply put, people want to know what they have been missing out on and also like to learn. This post fulfills both of these desires. It also implies that we need to read the biblical text carefully - not with our presuppositions!

3) Multiverse Theory Proves Flying Spaghetti Monster. If the Multiverse Theory is true, the proverbial Flying Spaghetti Monster, along with many other crazy things exist! http://ibitedge.blogspot.com/2014/08/multiverse-theory-proves-flying.html

I can't take credit as the author of this post. Just reading the title almost makes one laugh. The post itself is even more hilarious! The logical conclusion from an hypothesis that tries to present itself as being so prestigious - but it is innately unverifiable. It seems people will go to all ends with blind faith to hold to a view that tries to put "God out of a job." (However, it still does not demonstrate that there is no God. If this view was true, we still have the question of who made the multiverse?)

4) The Amazing Cell! The amazing design and signal broadcasting system in the cell. http://ibitedge.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-amazing-cell.html

This post was one amazing video clip you will have to watch again! It shows some process that happen within our cells - an awesome and amazing signal broadcasting system!

Feel free to tell me which one was your favorite post in the space below!  

3 Things You Thought The Bible Says About Christmas, But It Doesn't.

Now each one of these three items may be true, they may have happened as tradition says, we may even have external evidence that points to their truthfulness. However, the Bible does not bear them evidence.

Jesus Was Born In A Stable

What we hear is that Jesus was born in a stable, now like I said before, he just may have been. But the Bible does not say this. It says in Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

In those days, some kept small animals in the house to protect them from the elements. In fact, even in modernity, there still are farmers who will bring in a piglet, a lamb or chicks for a short time to protect them from the whether and wild animals. Could they have stayed in a house? Maybe. Did they stay in a stable or barn? Probably - but again the Bible does not say.

The Angels Sang At Jesus' Birth

So many times in our traditions of the Nativity and Christmas carols, we hear that the angels sang with "glad tidings." Ah, but again, the Bible does not say this. Check out Luke 2:8-14

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

So did they sing? Maybe. But all it says here is that they were "...saying, Glory to
God...". In fact, I don't think the Bible says anywhere that angels ever sing! However, they could have sang in this case – but it just does not say.

There Were Three Wise Men To Give Gifts To Jesus

Tradition say that their names were: Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. Others say their names were Larvandad, Gushnasaph and Hormisdas, or what about Hor, Karsudan and Basanater? And still others say their names were Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilma. But alas, the Bible never gives their names - let alone say there were only three. Check out Matthew 2:1, 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

And verse 11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

So you see, the number of wise men, or Magi, are never specified, rather the number of gifts were three.

Spread The News!

Alright, there you have it, three things that you were taught that the Bible says - that the Bible never says! Now you have something to talk about when you gather with family and friends this Christmas!

Have a Happy Christmas! Spread the joy of this season and the reason of Christ's birth - to free men from the bondage of sin!

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Image Source: commons.wikimedia/G.dallorto

4 Creative Ideas For Christmas Cards and Greetings

In the last post, I gave ideas on Christmas' card captions. Here I want to build on that and give more ideas to help you as you send out cards.

Make your message short, memorable and succinct

Give the essence of Christ, the reason for his birth and maybe even a succinct gospel message of the kingdom. However, “preachy” cars may turn many off.

Push against the slogans

People become dull of hearing the message when slogans lose their original luster. For example, instead of “Merry Christmas” use maybe “Happy Christmas.”

Use Images and text lines that are deep but different

Building off the two previous points, if you can write or if you are an artist, use simple truths in a new and powerful way. We have the “romantic” Nativity scenes, but what about a greater range of feelings, such as the despair of being turned away from an inn, the pain of child birth and the “stuck in the manger” feel and running from the king's soldiers? How about the perspective of the magi, the Shepherds or maybe even Herod!

Stay away from the “political correct” phrases 

Our culture is pushing everyone to be “PC”, in this case we need to “swim against the tide”. Examples of these meaningless phrases include the infamous “have a happy holiday”, rather use greetings that have substance for the meaning of this time of the year.


Do you have more ideas? If so, feel free to them below!

One Thing To Do As You Prepare For Christmas.

Your Christmas card list of contacts may have gotten longer over time, still including those who you haven't talked to in years. Don't miss this opportunity to express Christ through your cards, letters, family pictures or gifts. You have a perfect opportunity to share Christ, so why not use it for the furtherance of the Kingdom?

Do you desire to speak the Gospel in a setting where most people will be friendly to what you say? Christmas is the time of the year when you can do just that. While you may offended some, most people are not only undisturbed by Christ during the Christmas season, but expect you to present the subject.

That method is with Christmas cards.

If you're not a creative card maker, seek out cards that contain the essences of Christ's coming. If you enjoy making and designing cards, make something special with the Kingdom message. Knowing were to start can be a problem for some. The main principle for your text and graphics is that it should be deep and meaningful in content to help others think about Christ. However, it also needs to be persuasive while not preachy. Bible verses, parts of Christmas Carols and creative, but meaningful, thoughts can jump start your card captions. You can also gather ideas from past Christmas cards you have received. Lastly, to help start your “mind juices”, feel free to use or get ideas from any of the following card captions.

O God our loving Father, help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. May Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake, amen.
—Robert LouisStevenson
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Jesus is God’s promise fulfilled.
May you take great joy in Him and the celebration of His birth.
______________________________
From the cradle to the cross:
What the Child has done for those who receive His pardon…
______________________________
Nailed to the top of the cross of Jesus’ was a “certificate of debt” to Caesar, a public display of Jesus’ crime: “King of the Jews.” When punishment is complete, Caesar’s court will cancel the debt with a single Greek word stamped upon the parchment’s face: “tetelestai.” Finished. Paid in full.

Being king of the Jews is not the crime Jesus pays for, however. Another certificate as nailed to to his cross that day: ours. In the darkness that shrouds Calvary from the sixth to the ninth hour, Jesus gave his life as a ransom so we can be free from the shackles of sin and Satan.

At the last, it is not the cross that takes Jesus’ life. When the full payment is made, when the sin debt melts away, when the ransom has been paid, freeing us from our own wrong doing and slavery to sin, Jesus simply dismisses His spirit with a single Greek word that falls from His lips: “Tetelestai.” It is finished. 

Colossians 2:13-14
John 19:30
John 8:34
Romans 6
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Christmas Blessings…
…with a prayer that you come to a quiet place of reflection on the simplicity of Jesus’ birth and the magnitude of His purpose.
 _____________________________
Christmas is not about giving, it's about a gift. May the gift of forgiveness and freedom through Jesus, our Lord, fill your heart this year.
Merry Christmas
 _____________________________
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 1:23
______________________________
The God of all creation humbled Himself to become a human being—our Savior, Christ the Lord.  Because Jesus was born He could die, bringing the abundance of life we enjoy through Him.  May each of you rest in the Babe whose birth we celebrate this day.
______________________________

What creative cards have you seen or made over the years? Do you have any more ideas you could add below for others to use?

These captions either came from or were based off of the following source: Koukl, G. (Mar 12, 2013) http://www.str.org/articles/christmas-card-captions#.VHUEl5-c3Qo

Why I Did Not Have A Happy Holiday This Past Year

Did I have great sadness? Was there pain? Was I lonely?

Thanks for asking, but no, these were not the reasons. In fact, I feel fine. However, I still did not have a “happy holiday.” I would rather say I did have a joyful time celebrating the remembrance of Christ's birth.

I hope next Christmas season, you to will use this opportunity to tell others about Christ. Think about it, Christmas is the time of the year when most are willing to hear about Christ. In fact they expect people to talk about him. In fact even unbelievers talk about him.

It is good and biblically directed for us to verbally tell others about our Christ and salvation. However, I would encourage you to have at least one modest goal in eleven months from now. Start thinking about your greeting cards.

If you are creative with art or words use it for Christ. If God did not grant you with those gifts, start looking for cards that are creative, powerful and have a meaningful message for the Gospel's sake.

My question for you is what type of card will you send out? One with the message of Christ, or are you going to have happy holidays with Santa Clause?