A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-25-02....Christmas Day

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

Click on Baby Jesus

THE CHRSTMAS STORY
As told by Matthew

THE NATIVITY

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

WISE MEN

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

GIFTS

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

FLEEING TO EGYPT

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 New International Version

JESUS IS THE REASON
FOR THE SEASON

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-23-02 Christmas Music 12-24-02 Twas the Night Before Christmas

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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[Pippin]

UH OH!

Who let the Wolfie out! LOL!!

Thanks (((LOUIE)))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hi, kneezles, good to see you.

Hello to Sassy.

[sweetliberty]

Takes a lot to make me drool, especially with these Hollywood types.

I first read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings in 1970 or 71.

[Pippin]

I read the Hobbit in '78 and The Lord of the Rings in '79 and '80. And read both several times since then.

[ru4liberty]

Happy, Happy Birthday Pippin
Sung to the tune of Happy, Happy Birthday Baby

Happy, happy birthday Pippin
We're so glad that you're a FReeper!
Thought I'd drop a line to say
That upon this special day
We're glad you're here with us

Happy, happy birthday Pippin!
How you bless these "Finest" threads!
And we miss you when you're gone,
We've developed quite a bond
'Cause we love to have you with us

Do you remember the time before Free Republic?
We were so lonely needing each other...
How can we thank JimRob?!!

Happy, happy birthday Pippin!
We won't forget today's your birthday;
No used Christmas wrap for you
'Cause we celebrate anew
Our very special Pippin!

[ST.LOUIE1]

UH OH!
Who let the Wolfie out! LOL!!

LOL Not to worry,....he won't bite. : )

Thanks (((LOUIE)))

You're very welcome (((((((((Pip))))))))))

[Diver Dave]

I was informed that next year I'm to have the family over for Christmas Eve!

Uhh, does this mean your FReeper family or the one's in the picture? :)

[Pippin]

Thank You for the song! :^)

[sweetliberty]

I'm finding it really interesting to read them again with the benefit of the visual experience of the movies. It helps to create a clearer mental image in the reading.

[Pippin]

Oh, Well!

Okay, LOL!!

How was your Christmas?

[Pippin]

The ones in the picture, though I wish I could have my freeper family over as well!

[Pippin]

Yes it does. I'm a mazed at how acurate my mental picture of Middle Earth and the characters were.

[ru4liberty]

My pleasure! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful photography talent with us!

[Diver Dave]

Glad you guys were able to join family for Christmas. Come back and visit FR's Finest... more often - you've been missed.

[sweetliberty]

Same here, with the exception of the orcs. I really never had a clear mental image of them before the movie. They were kinda vague. Peter Jackson is incredible. Wait till you see the appendices. I am just in awe of what they were able to do and the dedication of all those who made it work.

[carlo3b]

An outstanding soup for a cold winter night.  Because of this recipe I sometimes bake an extra 5 pound bag of potates and send the soup to my neighbor's house to get a few browny points in the event I ever need a favor...LOLOL

Dreamy Creamy Baked Potato Soup

• 3  pounds russet potatoes baked
• 4  slices thick-cut bacon
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 3/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 2  tablespoons flour
• 5  cups chicken broth
• 1  cup half-and-half or milk
• 1  cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Edam, and or Colby)
• 4  green onions chopped
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1) Bake potatoes ahead of time and refrigerate, at least an hour. Peel and dice potatoes.
2) In 3-quart or medium soup pot, brown bacon until crisp, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3) Pour off all fat except 1 tablespoon and add butter. Add onions and saute 5 minutes over medium heat until soft, but not
brown. Stir in flour; stir and cook for 1 minute.
4) Add broth, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
5) Add diced potatoes, half-and-half, and sauteed bacon. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
6) Add cheese and green onions. Stir until cheese is melted.
MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Pippin]

I kinda had a problem with the Ents and with Gollum as well as the Orcs. I could never get them pictured quite right.

But I think Peter Jackson did a fantastic job on them as well as all the rest.

[Pippin]

DROOL!!!!

Is this recipe in the cookbook?

[daisyscarlett]

Well I see your birthday party is in full swing and I did not come empty handed....Love the photos you shared and what an interesting and fun place you have made your work cubicle. Delbert would be proud...

[sweetliberty]

I was amazed how close gollum was to how I pictured him. I was a little surprised at what a major role he played and how much "up close and personal" interaction there was between him and the other characters. That was no small feat. In fact, I would go so far to say that a new bar has been set for CGI's that is going to be pretty tough for others to match. Amazing work!