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WIT & WISDOM - December 22, 1998 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: I hope my achievements in life shall be these--that I will have fought for what was right and fair, that I will have risked for that which mattered, that I will have given help to those who were in need. . .that I will have left the earth a better place for what I've done and who I've been. - C. Hoppe [1] ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS Author Unknown - Santa lives at the North Pole. . . JESUS is everywhere. - Santa rides in a sleigh. . . JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. - Santa comes but once a year. . . JESUS is an ever present help. - Santa fills your stockings with goodies. . . JESUS supplies all your needs. - Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. . . JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart. - You have to wait in line to see Santa. . . JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. - Santa lets you sit on his lap. . . JESUS lets you rest in His arms. - Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?". . . JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. - Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. . . JESUS has a heart full of love. - All Santa can offer is HO HO HO. . . JESUS offers health, help and hope. - All Santa says "You better not cry". . . JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you." - Santa's little helpers make toys. . . JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. - Santa may make you chuckle but. . . JESUS gives you joy that is your strength. - While Santa puts gifts under your tree. . . JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.- Its obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season. Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus. [2] ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Grab a pen and paper and test you 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. [3] ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: We set out our creche for the holidays, and my 5-year-old daughter, Laura, was watching put all of the figurines in it - especially baby Jesus. I explained what a manger was - that they didn't have a crib for him, so they had to lay a blanket on the hay and put him there. She thought about that for a minute, and then she looked at me and said, "Mom, did they have to use a manger for his car seat, too?' [4] ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: A researcher at the University of Pennsylvania has invented a wheelchair that uses a pair of robotic arms to climb over curbs, steps, and other obstacles. The new wheelchair is designed as an all-terrain vehicle, with an adaptive computer brain that can be programmed to handle unexpected events and recover from off-balance situations. The wheelchair's two arms respond to the resistance they encounter, adjusting the force they use to lift the chair over the obstacles. Each arm has two motors and a rubber grip-tip. The designers suggest that eventually the arms might be fitted with hands! More about all-terrain wheelchairs, with movies: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/%7Evenkat/wheel_noframe.html [5] ~~~~~~~ CONTRIBUTORS: [1] (DAILY QUOTATION'S LIST [2] (MONDAY FODDER [3] (Shawn Browning) [4] (Ken Morland via Fast Eddie's Funnies [5] (The Learning Kingdom |