Welcome to THE TIMOTHY REPORT for December 20, 2004
“To assist, encourage, enable and equip”
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
CHANGING ADDRESSES? If you are changing addresses, first unsubscribe
from the list and then subscribe to the new address
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Send a blank e-mail to: TimothyReport-unsubscribe@in-his-steps.com
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
STABLES AND MANSIONS
Christ was content with a stable when he was born so that we could have a mansion when we die.
--Author Unknown
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTIONS
Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value:
--Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, “I love you.”
--Give something away—anonymously.
--Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.
--Turn away wrath with a soft answer.
--Visit someone in a nursing home.
--Apologize if you were wrong.
--Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.
--Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.
--Charles Swindoll, in “Growing Strong,” pp. 400-401
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
SENTIMENTAL AT CHRISTMAS
We must not satisfy ourselves with being sentimental at Christmas. As James S. Stewart said in one of his works, ‘There is a type of religion that accepts the consolations of religion without the duties of religion and thus we become sentimental followers of Jesus Christ. Sentimentalism is enjoyment without obligation.’ So many would like to enjoy Christ without being obligated to Him. That is impossible.
But when you and I find the comfort of God we also find the commission of God to service. The discovery of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is like the wind filling the sails of a boat; it pushes us on and enables us to carry the cargo of the Spirit. It is like the gift of a job to a man who has long been out of work. It is like giving a man a map when he has lost his way and thereafter he walks in that way. It is not merely offering a man a seat; it is giving him a task to do. You and I would fail miserably to appreciate Christmas unless we have brought to Christ the gifts of the gold of our worship, the frankincense of our possessions, and the myrrh of our service.
--Louis H. Evans, in “The Kingdom Is Yours.”
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
NO CHRISTMAS?
Imagine an ocean liner approaching the international date line on the night of December 24th. The next morning the passengers would awaken to discover that it was the morning of December 26. For them, at least, there would be no Christmas that year.
R. W. Hardy asks, “What if that misfortune were to happen to the whole world? That by some misadventure not only the day but all that is associated with the Incarnation were by some means to be annihilated? That all the light and healing, all the enlightenment and culture, all the moral uplift and reform, all the spiritual strength, all the faith, hope and love that are directly traceable to Christ and His message and redeeming power, were to be lost? The Greeks said it: ‘Not to be born were better.’ “
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
------------------
CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Grab a pen and paper and test youR knowledge of the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Answers to these 20 questions are on bottom of page:
TRUTH OR TRADITION
1. Who instructed Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
A. An angel
B. King Herod
C. Caesar Augustus
D. David
E. none of the above
2. Where was Joseph from?
A. Nazareth
B. Bethlehem
C. Alabama
D. Jerusalem
E. none of the above
3. What means of travel did Mary and Joseph use?
A. Ford
B. a donkey
C. a camel
D. their feet
E. unknown
4. What did the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
A. There is no room in the inn
B. You can stay in my stable
C. both A and B
D. Will this be cash or credit
E. unknown
5. Where was Jesus born?
A. in a stable
B. in a hospital
C. outside
D. in a cave
E. unknown
6. After Jesus was born where did Mary place him?
A. in a stable
B. on the ground
C. in her bed
D. in a feeding trough
E. unknown
7. What animals were present at Jesus birth?
A. cows
B. donkeys
C. sheep
D. A, B, and C
E. unknown
8. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?
A. one
B. three
C. 10,000
D. a great company
E. unknown
9. What "sign" did the angels tell the shepherds to look for?
A. a star
B. a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger
C. both A and B
D. a blue cow on the door
E. a little drummer boy
10. As the heavenly host praised God, what did they say?
A. Joy to the World
B. Oh, come let us adore Him
C. Alleluia
D. Glory to God in the highest
E. none of the above
11. What did the shepherds do after the angels left them?
A. they went shopping for a birthday gift
B. they put their sheep in a pen
C. they hurried off to find the baby
D. they went to bed to get some rest
E. they decided they must be dreaming
12. Whey did the angel instruct Joseph to name the baby "Jesus"?
A. because he would live a perfect life
B. because it was popular name at the time
C. because he would save his people from their sin
D. because he was God's son
E. none of the above
13. Who saw the star in the East?
A. the shepherds
B. the magi
C. both A and B
D. Mary and Joseph
E. all of the above
14. How many magi came to worship Jesus?
A. one
B. three
C. about 100
D. a caravan
E. unknown
15. What does the Bible tell us about the Magi?
A. they were well educated
B. they were kings
C. they were from the East
D. A, B, and C
E. none of these things
16. Where did the Magi find Jesus?
A. at the inn
B. in a house
C. lying in a manger
D. staying with his grandparents
E. none of the above
17. What is frankincense?
A. perfume
B. a precious stone
C. tree resin
D. an expensive metal
E. none of the above
18. What is myrrh?
A. a beautiful cloth
B. a food delicacy
C. a burial spice
D. painted glass
E. none of the above
19. Why did King Herod want to know where Jesus was?
A. he had gifts to present to Him
B. he wanted to worship baby Jesus
C. he wanted to p lay with baby Jesus
D. he planned to kill baby Jesus
E. unknown
20. Where is the Christmas story found in the bible?
A. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
B. Matthew, Luke, and John
C. Matthew and Luke
D. Matthew
E. Luke
ANSWERS:
1.C
2.B
3.D
4.E
5.E
6.D
7.E
8.A
9.B
10.D
11.C
12.C
13.B
14.E
15.C
16.B
17.C
18.C
19.D
20.C
Well, how did you do? Did you really know the truths surrounding the birth of Jesus or did you know the traditions? If you don't believe these are the real answers . . . Get out your Bible and read Matthew and Luke.
--Source Unknown
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
------------------
THE LEGEND OF BIG JOE THE CHURCH BELL
Inside the 260-foot German Gothic steeple of St. Francis de Sales Church near Cincinnati, Ohio, hang ''Big Joe'' -- the largest church bell and the largest swinging bell -- that is, a bell designed to be rung with a clapper instead of a hammer or mechanical piston - ever cast in the United States. It weighs 37,000 pounds, has a 9-foot diameter at its base and measures 7 feet from its rim to its crown. Named after from Joseph T. Buddeke, the parishioner who presented it to the church, Big Joe was intended to be a replica of “Big Ben” in London, except that Big Ben was never a swinging bell.
(Note: The World Peace Bell is larger but was cast outside the United States.)
According to a legend, ''Big Joe'' was swung in its steeple just once, in January 1896. It responded with a serious E flat in the third octave below middle C. At that moment, every window facing the church for several blocks is said to have been blown out of its frame. The peal of the bell could be heard for fifteen miles. So the story says that it was decided that the big bell must never swing again. The church immobilized the bell by removing the clapper and installing a mechanical device that strikes a hammer against the outside of the bell.
It’s probably just a legend with no historical basis. ''Big Joe's'' cast-iron clapper is on display at the Verdin Company museum in Cincinnati. There is a slight flattening on one side, indicating more wear than one would expect if the bell had been swung on only one occasion.
Walter C. McKelvey, commenting on the legend, wrote: “Is not this the tragic picture of Christmas as lived out by many people? The mightiest and most joyful song of the ages, because we are afraid of its effect, is too frequently reduced by human behavior to little more than a faint tinkle.”
So, dear friends, this Christmas don’t be tapping the bell with a hammer when the most glorious news the world has ever heard deserves to be proclaimed with the proud swinging of a massive bell. Let the news ring out! Christ is born!
--Rocky Henriques
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
SEEING THE INCARNATION IN YOUR DOG
Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved’s face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak? Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.
--C. S. Lewis
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
FROM THE FATHER'S HEART
(You Were My Idea--Psalm 139)
Treasured child, You need not try to convince Me. You are right. You cannot heal yourself. Your own efforts have failed, because I alone can do this work. You are powerless apart from Me, hurting one, and I don't expect you to perform the impossible (that, after all, is My domain!).
I only ask that you abide in Me and cause My words to abide in you.
If at times you stray from Me, just remember---I am committed to you anyway. I will gently draw you back into My healing Presence.
Isn't that how I brought you to Myself in the first place? You did not choose Me. I chose you, and I love you still. I know your heart. I understand your frailty. I know your deepest desires and take into account all factors that contribute to your pain. I know you did not "choose" all of these factors, many of which were already present when you arrived in this world. You certainly did not choose to be born!
No, you were My idea. That is why you are here!
So will you rest in My love and stop fretting? Will you turn your gaze from the past and walk on? You cannot successfully move forward and look backward at the same time. Turn around, child! Follow Me! Have you forgotten? That is what "repentance" means...
With deepest compassion and commitment,
Your devoted Father
--Author unknown (edited by Randy Walker)
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
THE THING MOST WORTH BELIEVING
At Christmas time it is hard even for the unbeliever not to believe in something if not in everything. Peace on earth, good will to men; a dream of innocence that is good to hold on to even if it is only a dream; the mystery of being a child; the possibility of hope—not even the canned carols piped out over the shopping center plaza from Thanksgiving on can drown it out entirely.
For a moment or two, the darkness of disenchantment, cynicism, doubt, draw back at least a little, and all the usual worldly witcheries lose something of their power to charm. Maybe we cannot manage to believe with all our hearts. But as long as the moments last, we can believe that this is of all things the thing most worth believing.
--Frederick Beuchner
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
INFINITELY BEYOND
There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.
--Billy Sunday in a sermon, “Wonderful,” quoted in “The Real Billy Sunday”
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, December 20, 2004)
-------------------
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
All lists are owned by Rocky Henriques, publisher of THE TIMOTHY REPORT and of CQDAILY. Both are free and you may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions above or on each message.
PLEASE do not send unsubscribe messages to the list owner without first trying to unsubscribe yourself.
****************************
some of this material is original. It and the compilation of other materials is copyrighted 2004 Rocky Henriques, Jackson, Mississippi. To receive your FREE subscription, Visit http://www.timothyreport.com
Scroll down on the main page for instructions on how to subscribe.
The Timothy Report is published every Monday by Rocky Henriques, 255 Swan Lake Drive, Jackson, MS 39212. E-mail address: rocky@timothyreport.com. Phone: 601-372-7710
Home Page: www.timothyreport.com
