MERRY CHRISTMAS THREAD (post your favorite songs, carols, family traditions, childhood memories)

[Liz]

This thread is lovingly dedicated to the members, friends and supporters of the American Civil Liberties Union.

My sincerest wish for you is that the universal peace and love exemplified by the birth of the Christ child will fill your hearts with joy at Christmas time and on everyday of the year.

[AZamericonnie]

Happy Holy days & Merry CHRISTmas!

[cspackler]

Well, before the nay-sayers show up to rain on your parade...

My daughter (4) actually started the tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus. We even sing happy birthday on Christmas day. It's quite a hoot, and helps keep everything rooted in the meaning...

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Songs and carols: They're all great, except that annoying Dominick the Donkey song that some radio hosts insist on playing.

[No Blue States]

Luke 2:10-11

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.

[mplsconservative]

Merry Christmas! But you're kidding about this part, aren't you? Last I heard the ACLU is not real "big" on Christmas and Christians.


"This thread is lovingly dedicated to the members, friends and supporters of the American Civil Liberties Union."

[Liz]

What's your time-honored Christmas tradition? Do you have a favorite Christmas carol, or a Christmas memory that never fades?

[bruin66]

To my Christian friends on FR - Merry Christmas!

[Liz]

Merry Christmas AZ.

[KevinDavis]

My favorite christmas tradition is 24 hours of A Christmas Story and watch Christmas Vacation.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Here Was A Man"
(To be spoken--Johnny Cash-like--over a lonely keyboard version of "Joy to the World")

"Here was a man...a man who was born in a small village, the son of a peasant woman. He grew up in another small village. Until He reached the age of thirty, He worked as a carpenter; then, for three years, He was a travelling minister. But He never travelled more than two hundred miles from where He was born, and where He did go, He usually walked. He never held political office, He never wrote a book, He never bought a home, He never had a family, He never went to college, and He never set foot inside a big city, yet...here was a man.

Here was a man...though He never did one of those things that you usually associate with greatness, He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this World, except through the Divine Purpose that brought Him to this World.

While He was still a young man, the Tide of Popular Opinion turned against Him. Most of His FRiends ran away...one of them denied Him, one of them betrayed Him and turned Him over to his Enemies. Then, He went through the mockery of a Trial and was nailed to a Roman Cross between two thieves. And even while He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had in this World, and that was His robe, His Purple Robe. When He was dead, He was taken down from the cross and laid in a borrowed grave, provided by a compassionate FRiend.

More than Nineteen Centuries have come and gone, and today He's the Centerpiece of the Human Race, Our Leader, and the Column to Human Destiny. And I think I'm well within the mark when I say that All of the Armies that Ever Marched, All of the Navies that Ever Sailed, All of the Legislative Bodies that Ever Sat, and All of the Kings that Ever Reigned...All of Them Put Together have not affected the Life of Man on this Earth so Powerfully as that One Solitary Life...

Here was a man."

[Sgt_Schultze]

Merry Christmas Liz. By far, the best Christmas song is "Mary Did You Know" by Kathy Mattea.

[Liz]

Merry Christmas Sarge. Thanks for the song.

[Liz]

That beautiful soliloquy is entitled "One Solitary Life" and was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”).

[smith288]

[Liz]

No, I'm not kidding. The ACLU types need the spirit of Christmas more than anyone.

[RiflemanSharpe]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!

[Mudboy Slim]

I have it on CD with Johnny Cash doing the recitation over "Joy to the World" in the background...

"Willie the Red-Necked Traitor"
(To be sung to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)

Willie the red-necked traitor...
Had a big ol' bulbous nose,
Snorted Coke like a vacuum,
Stuck it up his Intern Ho's.
All of the Noble FReepers,
Used to laugh and call Slick names.
We never let Left's Poltroons,
Fergit Slick's a Treas'nous Shame.

Then one snowy Justice Eve...
FReepers came to sing:
"Willie and yer Leftist Blight,
Shan't "MOVE ON" becuz We're Right!!"
Folks, DemRAT Lib'rals loved Slick,
But Right routed them fer FRee:
"Willie the Red-Necked Traitor...
You'll die in a Fed'ral Penitentiary!!!"

FReegards...MUD

[Sgt_Schultze]

I wanted to post the words to the song for the benefit of those who haven't heard the song.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God!

Oh, Mary, did you know?
Oh, Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

[Liz]

Merry Christmas
_______________________________

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

--St. Francis of Assisi, born 1181.