Merry Christmas (yes!) and Happy Easter and Passover
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BookofMormonArchaeologicalForum
Apr 6, 2012, 6:57:30 PM4/6/12
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The following is from one of our members:
No, I'm not calendar-challenged. It really is the day to say "Happy Birthday" to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although the world celebrates Christmas on December 25 because of pagan Roman influence thousands of years ago, most Biblical scholars agree that the actual time of Christ's birth is in late March or early April when Passover is celebrated. This is also the season in Israel when new lambs are born - the only time of the year when shepherds would stay in the fields with their flocks at night as recorded in the Luke 2. Modern prophets have declared through inspiration the birthdate of Christ to be April 6, so MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
But even more important than celebrating the birth of Jesus into mortality is the celebration of his "rebirth" or resurrection into immortality and eternal life. That unique and wonderous event conqured death for us all. "Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?"
It also opened the door for us to escape from the bondage of sin, through Christ's infinite atonement. I truly hope you can take a few minutes today and share with me this wonderful celebration.
When I was young I used to listen to Paul Harvey's newscast and commentary each day. His "down home" wisdom made a lot of sense to me. Today I found his recorded Easter message that I'd like to share with you. It's pretty short and well worth the time to listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCEWxVsOEo&feature=related
If you've got 3 or 4 more minutes, Don Francisco's song is one that brings me to sweet tears with the witness of the Holy Spirit every time I hear it (even after dozens of times), and I hope it will bless your life as well. He sums up the "Good News" of Christ in two wonderful words: "He's Alive!"
Don Francisco's "He's Alive" - orchestral version: (you can skip the commercial after 5 sec. to get to the song - then listen carefully to the words)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKxD8WnSYqQ&feature=related
Are you still with me? One night years ago I was amazed to hear Dolly Parton sing her version of this song on the Johnny Carson "Tonight" show!
Bless her heart, she had the guts and the love to bring Christ onto late night television! I think Jesus would have approved. He himself often went to where the sinners were ... (not to say that late night TV is for sinners, but it ain't Sunday morning either!)
I don't have video of the Tonight show, but this is just as good -- "He's Alive" - Dolly Parton live at CMA awards show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBJF3_IZwnk&feature=related
I sincerely hope that this Resurrection Day ("Easter" is another pagan term that crept into Christianity) will be a time for each of us to reflect on what our Savior has done for me and you, and to re-commit ourselves to serve Him with all our hearts. It is so easy to get caught up in the minutia of everyday life and to forget that these few short years we spend in mortality are but a blink of an eye in the eternity that is our "real world". Earth is not our home but a short-term "boarding school" where we've come to learn and grow. Of all the things we do, "if it ain't for Eternity, it ain't worth it". Another way of saying this is in my favorite scripture: "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these (other) things will be added unto you." (Matt 6:33).
Merry Christmas and Happy Resurrection Day!
Shalom,
No, I'm not calendar-challenged. It really is the day to say "Happy Birthday" to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although the world celebrates Christmas on December 25 because of pagan Roman influence thousands of years ago, most Biblical scholars agree that the actual time of Christ's birth is in late March or early April when Passover is celebrated. This is also the season in Israel when new lambs are born - the only time of the year when shepherds would stay in the fields with their flocks at night as recorded in the Luke 2. Modern prophets have declared through inspiration the birthdate of Christ to be April 6, so MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
But even more important than celebrating the birth of Jesus into mortality is the celebration of his "rebirth" or resurrection into immortality and eternal life. That unique and wonderous event conqured death for us all. "Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?"
It also opened the door for us to escape from the bondage of sin, through Christ's infinite atonement. I truly hope you can take a few minutes today and share with me this wonderful celebration.
When I was young I used to listen to Paul Harvey's newscast and commentary each day. His "down home" wisdom made a lot of sense to me. Today I found his recorded Easter message that I'd like to share with you. It's pretty short and well worth the time to listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCEWxVsOEo&feature=related
If you've got 3 or 4 more minutes, Don Francisco's song is one that brings me to sweet tears with the witness of the Holy Spirit every time I hear it (even after dozens of times), and I hope it will bless your life as well. He sums up the "Good News" of Christ in two wonderful words: "He's Alive!"
Don Francisco's "He's Alive" - orchestral version: (you can skip the commercial after 5 sec. to get to the song - then listen carefully to the words)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKxD8WnSYqQ&feature=related
Are you still with me? One night years ago I was amazed to hear Dolly Parton sing her version of this song on the Johnny Carson "Tonight" show!
Bless her heart, she had the guts and the love to bring Christ onto late night television! I think Jesus would have approved. He himself often went to where the sinners were ... (not to say that late night TV is for sinners, but it ain't Sunday morning either!)
I don't have video of the Tonight show, but this is just as good -- "He's Alive" - Dolly Parton live at CMA awards show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBJF3_IZwnk&feature=related
I sincerely hope that this Resurrection Day ("Easter" is another pagan term that crept into Christianity) will be a time for each of us to reflect on what our Savior has done for me and you, and to re-commit ourselves to serve Him with all our hearts. It is so easy to get caught up in the minutia of everyday life and to forget that these few short years we spend in mortality are but a blink of an eye in the eternity that is our "real world". Earth is not our home but a short-term "boarding school" where we've come to learn and grow. Of all the things we do, "if it ain't for Eternity, it ain't worth it". Another way of saying this is in my favorite scripture: "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these (other) things will be added unto you." (Matt 6:33).
Merry Christmas and Happy Resurrection Day!
Shalom,
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