Thought for the Day
Robert E. Chatfield
This is absolutely amazing.
In addition, the memories it brings back are very sweet.
I'm sorry, I still say the 50's and 60's were the greatest generations.
Maybe you had to be there.
Elvis, Martina McBride team up for 'Blue Christmas'
By Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY
Martina
McBride was just shy of 2 when Elvis Presley filmed his 1968
"comeback" TV special. This year, the country singer steps
back in time 40 years to join the King of Rock 'n' Roll in a video
for Blue Christmas.
The effect is similar to Celine Dion's American Idol duet with Presley on If I Can Dream in 2007, but producer George Flanigen says the process used for the illusion was entirely different.
"They took Elvis out of the '68 special and put him on the Idol stage," he says. "We were taking Martina to the '68 special."
The posthumous collaboration also appears on Elvis Presley Christmas Duets, a new album that pairs Presley with singers such as Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant and Olivia Newton-John.
In the original footage — the only existing video of Elvis performing a Christmas song — a leather-clad Presley appears with his band on a small stage at the center of a studio audience. In the video, McBride walks out of the audience and sits next to him.
"There's a spot between (guitarist) Scotty Moore and Elvis that's open, like somebody should have been sitting there," says Flanigen. "We're like, 'We could probably figure a way to put her with Elvis.'
"We scoured the footage and picked shots of Elvis throughout the whole special to be able to put them together. There are shots where he and Martina share the frame, where he looks over at her, where she looks back at him and sings and smiles."
McBride filmed her parts in front of a green screen. "It took four weeks" to piece together, Flanigen says.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KK6sMo8NBY
Robert E. Chatfield
The most popular gifts in 1913 vs 2013
1913: (based on research on "Dear Santa letters," found in the historical newspaper collections on SuperSearch)
Candy
Nuts
Rocking horse
Doll
Mittens/Gloves
Toy Train
Oranges
Books
Handkerchief
Skates
2013: (based on estimates by leading retailers (Toys'R'Us, Target, Walmart and Argos)
Furby Boom
Teksta Robotic Puppy
LeapPad Ultra
Flying Fairy
Big Hugs Elmo
Barbie Dream House
Giggly Monkey
Nerf Gun
Ninja Turtles
Lego
Robert E. Chatfield
FORGIVENESS: The Best of All Christmas Gifts
Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.
D&C 82:1
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mahatma Gandhi
"Forgiveness
is not an emotion, it's a decision." Randall Worley
"Holding
on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing
it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." Buddha
Robert E. Chatfield
This may be more for the kids, but occasionally even one of us Scrounges gets a chuckle.
Corny
jokes for Christmas.
What
do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.
Why
does Santa have 3 gardens?
So he can ho-ho-ho.
Why
was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf
esteem.
What
do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Frostbite.
What
do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Ice Crispies.
What's
red and white and gives presents to good little fish on Christmas?
Sandy Claws.
What
do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?
Ribbon
hood.
There
was once a great czar in Russia named Rudolph the Red.
He stood
looking out the windows of is palace one day while his
wife, the
Czarina Katerina, sat nearby knitting. He turned to her
and said,
"Look my dear, it has begun to rain!" Without even
looking
up from her knitting she replied, "It's too cold to rain.
It
must be sleeting." The Czar shook his head and said, "I
am the
Czar of all the Russias, and Rudolph the Red knows rain,
dear!"
T'was
the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a
creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care.
They'd been worn all week and needed
the air.
Q.
What do you get if you cross mistletoe and a duck?
A. A Christmas
Quacker.
Q. What do call Santa when he stops moving?
A. Santa Pause!
Q.
Where does a snowman keep his money?
A. In a snow bank.
Q.
Why do mummies like Christmas so much?
A. Because of all the
wrapping!
Did you know that according to the song, "Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Santa has twelve reindeer?
Sure, in
the introduction it goes "There's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer
and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen..."
That
makes eight reindeer.
Then there's Rudolph, of course, so that
makes nine.
Then there's Olive. You know, "Olive the other
reindeer used to laugh..." That makes ten.
The eleventh is
Howe. You know, "Then Howe the reindeer loved him..."
Eleven reindeer.
Oh, and number 12? That's Andy! "Andy
shouted out with glee." The proof is in the song!
Q:
What do you call Frosty the Snowman in May?
A: A puddle!
Q:
Where do reindeer go to dance?
A: Christmas balls!
Q:
What's red, white and blue at Christmas time?
A: A sad candy
cane!
Q:
Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?
A: A mince spy!
Q:
What Christmas song is hidden in the alphabet:
A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z?
A: Noel (No
"L")
An
honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus were talking when
they all noticed a $5 bill on the floor. Who picked it up?
Santa of course, the other two don't exist!
How does Santa sing the alphabet?
A
B C D E F G...
H I J K L M N
Oh!,
Oh!, Oh!,
P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z! 22 December 2014
Robert E. Chatfield
If you have not often felt the joy of doing a kind act, you have neglected much, and most of all, yourself. A. Nielsen
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.
KINDNESS
I have wept in the night For the shortness of sight That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I never have yet Felt a twinge of regret For being a little too kind.
The Missing Baby Jesus
In a lovely essay*, Jean Gietzen wrote about a family experience in 1943. It was just before Christmas in North Dakota and her family had just bought a nativity set with small figurines. But Jean’s mother was deeply disturbed to discover the set included an extra Baby Jesus. “Go back to the store,” she instructed, “and tell the manager to put up a sign saying to call 7162 if a set is missing Baby Jesus.” For a week, Mom hovered by the phone.
Jean’s dad was annoyed. It was a simple packaging error, he said. Still, on Christmas Eve, when Mom insisted he trek to the store in 20 below zero weather to check on the sign, he did – complaining all the way. When he returned he received a phone call from Mom who curtly directed him to bring three blankets, a box of cookies and milk to 205 Chestnut Street.
When dad, Jean and her brother arrived, they found a woman and two young children in a cold, darkened home. Weeks before, the woman’s husband took the bedding and furniture and left; and now the furnace was broken. The demeanor of Jean’s father changed instantly. He stopped grousing and cheerfully set about to fix the furnace while his wife distributed the blankets, cookies and warm milk. He called some buddies and within hours extra oil for the furnace, clothes, bedding, two lamps and toys were delivered to the home.
How were they called to this mission of mercy? The woman had seen the sign posted in the store and figured that anyone kind enough to worry about a missing Baby Jesus would find a way to help. So she called 7162. And she was right.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Robert E. Chatfield
"The Biggest Gift of All!"
By Bob Perks
"What happened to it?," the child asked.
"What happened to what?" someone replied.
"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it got lost," he sadly replied.
It happens that way. It seems that when it comes to gift giving we feel the need to out do each other. The bigger the box, the more money we spend, the more love expressed.
It's simply not true. It's all a lie and we know it.
"Oh, you didn't have to..."
Yes they did. The world demands it of us. You know you would have felt rejected, ignored and overlooked if they didn't give you something.
"I have to get a gift for Joe. He gave me something last year."
"I'm only sending cards to people who sent them to me."
How sad. Gift giving has become a matching game.
Or worst yet, a competition.
So it was on this Christmas morning.
"I can't believe all of the presents!" someone said.
"This is even more than last year!" the oldest child confirmed.
"I guess Santa out did himself this year," Dad said.
"You must have been really good!" said Mom.
"Wait before you open them, let's get a picture of it all.
We can compare it to last year's gifts," said Dad.
Then the reds and greens of fancy Christmas paper flew across the room. The bows and ribbons were crushed among the efforts to make get to the gifts.
The youngest child was lost at times in the rush to find his own Santa's treasures but managed to survive somehow.
"Don't forget the gifts we got for each other!" one child yelled.
The youngest child stopped what he was doing. He wanted to watch his parents when they opened his special gift.
But it was no where to be found.
"What happened to it?," the child asked.
"What happened to what?" someone replied.
"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it got lost," he sadly replied.
The others were too busy to help him find it. They already began clearing away the paper and he feared they had tossed it in the garbage.
"You need to get bigger gifts. You don't lose big gifts," his older sister said laughing.
"But it was the biggest gift of all," the child replied.
He sat down in frustration and began to cry.
"Is this it?" his brother asked as he held the little box in his hand. "I almost stepped on it."
"That's the biggest gift of all?" the sister said mockingly.
"What a joke!"
"It is! It is!" he shouted back. "You'll see!"
Then, grabbing it from his brother's hand he straightened out the bow and handed it to Mom.
"Daddy, come here. This is for you, too," he said while sniffling away his tears.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what he had given.
Perhaps just out of curiosity, maybe just to laugh.
Carefully Mom unwrapped the gift and opened the box.
"Oh, my!" she said as she slowly sat down on the couch.
"What? What is it?" someone said.
Then Dad sat down next to her to share the special moment.
"Oh, I see." he said. Looking at his wife he humbly said, "It is indeed the biggest gift."
Then Mom reached in, pulled out the gift and placed it on her hand.
It was the Christ Child in the cradle.
Dad glanced over to look at their manger now buried beneath the all too many gifts.
"Clear away those things," he asked of his oldest child.
The dimly lit star attached to the manger shown down on the spot where the Christ Child would normally be.
"But he took it from..." his sister began to say until Mom interrupted her.
"He took it from the story of Christmas. The real reason we should be celebrating," she said.
The small child was standing next to the tree. The white lights sparkled off the warm streams of tears that ran down his face.
Quietly he explained..."Every year we think about how to give the biggest gift. I thought that this year I would give the best gift anyone could ever give. The Bishop, when he spoke in Primary, asked us to think about the greatest gift of all. Then I thought about Jesus and knew that I could not ever out give God. So my gift to you and Dad was the Biggest gift of all...ever!"
Suddenly it was silent. Mom glanced around the room and humbly said, "I am ashamed. We had forgotten the meaning of it all."
Then motioning to her son she said, "Come here. You were right. The Littlest One was indeed the Biggest Gift of all!"
"I believe in you!"
J
Bob Perks
Here is a special video
He is the Gift
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs
Robert E. Chatfield
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor. The mighty God. The everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:6
The Christmas Scale.
Robert E. Chatfield
In my estimation, this is the best analogy ever, describing why it was necessary for Christ to come to this earth.
It is with this story that Paul Harvey ended his broadcast every Saturday before Christmas. I first heard this in 1965. I never get tired of hearing it.
The Man and the Birds
Robert E. Chatfield
Only in America do we have a general in charge of the post office and a secretary in charge of defense.
And
I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free.
And
I won't forget the men who died
To give that right to me.
And
I'll gladly stand up next to you
And defend her still today.
For
there ain't no doubt I love this land.
God Bless the USA.
- Lee
Greenwood
Don’t
Brag, But Be Proud
Today, after winning a big game it’s common for athletes and fans to chant, “We’re number one,” in a classless display of self-praise that comes off as conceit and disrespectful taunting. I sometimes feel that way about materials praising America. Still, national pride is important. Reminders about the high principles on which this nation was based are essential to keep our idealism alive.
A listener once sent me an essay commenting on a report that someone in Pakistan had offered a reward to anyone who killed an American. To tell potential assassins what to look for, the unidentified author wrote that it’s hard to identify Americans because they are of every nationality and religion. In fact, he said, “there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that, he will answer only to God, not to the government or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.”
This is a legacy of freedom we have a right to be proud of. We also can be proud that despite high rhetoric, no other country gives as much or as often to aid the poor and oppressed, including those in Afghanistan.
We shouldn’t boast or brag or claim superiority. After all, what we do is often in our self-interest. But we should embrace for all to see the ideals that lead us to what Lincoln called “our better angels.”
Robert E. Chatfield
“The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs. If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another."
Joseph Smith
“The
degree to which we are able to extend mercy is evidence of our
commitment to Him who is our Master."
Gordon B Hinckley,
"Standing for Something" p 75
ONE
Thing President Monson’s Wife Would NOT Do
BY BEN ARKELL · DECEMBER 17, 2014
Have
you ever come to a moment of decision and doing nothing was the best
choice? President Monson’s wife, Francis, certainly had such an
occurrence which exemplified the amazing person she was.
Years
ago, President Monson recounted
the story of
a young paperboy who didn’t always deliver the paper in the manner
intended. Instead of getting the paper on the porch, he sometimes
accidentally threw it into the bushes or even close to the street.
Some on his paper route decided to start a petition of complaint. One
day a delegation came to the Monson’s house asking Sister
Monson to sign the petition. She declined, saying, “Why, he’s
just a little boy, and the papers are so heavy for him. I would never
be critical of him, for he tries his best.” The petition, however,
was signed by many of the others on the paper route and sent to the
boy’s supervisors.
Not many days afterward, President Monson came home from work and found his wife in tears. When she was finally able to talk, she told him that she had just learned that the body of the little paperboy had been found in his garage, where he had taken his own life. Apparently the criticism heaped upon him had been too much for him to bear.
How
easy it would have been for Sister Monson to sign that petition. How
easy it would have been to find fault when it was deserved. Yet she
chose mercy and understanding instead of accusation.
Are
there similar circumstances in your life where someone is at fault,
and blame is just? If so, consider the option of exercising mercy
instead. We are all dealing with many burdens and concerns that
others around us can’t fathom. There are always opportunities to
lash out at other drivers, unfriendly tellers, or unruly children.
Let’s take a step back this week, give people the benefit of the
doubt, and reach out with kindness.
As
Ralph Waldo Emerson said so eloquently, and as Sister Monson so
gracefully exhibited, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you
never know how soon it will be too late.”
Who
is the paperboy in your life?