2008 inscription:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2147928/posts
2007:
You alone are the LORD.
You made the heavens, even the highest heavens,
and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it,
the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to everything,
and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
NEHEMIAH 9:6 (NIV)
But whereas in previous years the President and the First Lady opted for messages of happiness, goodwill, and peace, this year featured the following closer:
May the joy of all creation fill your heart this blessed season 2007.
It is then signed by both George and Laura Bush.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/13/the-white-houses-super-c_n_76648.html
Like I said, there was no mention of Christmas in those cards and I said there was a verse in Matthew... :-)
It’s the same thing... President Bush was moving away from mentioning “Christmas” in his cards, too...
I think you’ll continue to see this with the Presidents from now on... Republican or Democrat, as they’ve both already been doing it...
Let me re-iterate what it is that the Presidents are moving away from in “Christmas”. There is — first of all — no mention of “Christmas” because that even that word would mention the “reason for the Season” — which is “Jesus Christ”. So, they make a move away from the “reason for the season” — and don’t mention “Jesus” in any way, or by name of the season, being “Christmas”.
And then any further mention is like Bush did, mentioning creation or happiness or joy or whatever — all pretty bland and generic mentions for the “holidays”.
The real reason for the Season is that Jesus, the Messiah of Israel came into the world, and then grew up and then died for the sins of the world, in order for all of us to have the salvation that God purposed for all to have, according to our choice (or not).
Even just mentioning Jesus, the Messiah of Israel as being born is not quite enough (as it is) — even though He is not mentioned any longer. It goes further as to the reason why He was born, and that was so that He could die for the sins of the world, taking that burden upon Himself, so that the whole world could be saved, as each one purposes in him or herself.
IIRC, Bush never used a New Testament Verse. Only Old Testament. Always seemed a little odd to me.