Yes I am still Alive

Hey everyone. I am still alive and hoping to be a little better at blogging. Today I am going to give my notes from yesterday morning. I must give my sources also....Bryan Cutshall has a great book about "The Legacy of Christmas," and Perry Stone has a wonderful article in his latest magazine about Christmas. With that said here are the notes:
The Legacy of Christmas

Introduction:

It was almost Christmas…Mary was so tired, so pregnant, and still pondering the words of the angel a few months earlier. The rooms in Bethlehem were filled because it was time to pay taxes and take the census. “No Room” was the reply at every door. So Joseph found a cattle stall. It wasn’t much, but at least it was warm and dry. Of course, he had no idea that Mary would deliver her baby that night. This sacred event marked the turning point of history. Have you ever wondered why we don’t celebrate Christmas in a barn? Allow me to tell you the legacy of Christmas.


I. The Celebration of Christmas
a. Celebrated around A.D. 200-almost 200 years after Jesus was born.
b. The word mass means “a gathering”
i. There were public masses, religious masses, and political masses.
ii. The church world adopted this term and began to celebrate different types of religious masses.
iii. In A.D. 200 it was determined that a mass should be held to celebrate the birth of Christ.
iv. So the first “Chirst-mass” was held.
c. The date of Christmas
i. No one knew the exact date of Christ’s birth
ii. A.D. 354 it was decided to make December 25 as the official date to celebrate the birth of Christ.
d. Soon prominent people began to make the gatherings more meaningful
i. Saint Nicholas of Myra-
1. fourth century bishop, traveled throughout Asia Minor giving gifts to orphans and widows.
2. He wore a red robe, standard for a bishop of his day, it was trimmed in white fir because of the cold climate.
3. Story about the farmer
a. Couldn’t pay his debt
b. Going to sell his daughters for slavery
c. Custom to hang their socks (known as stockings in that day) by the fire to dry out during the night.
d. St. Nicholas heard of their struggle and snuck around back of their house which was dug into the ground.
e. Dropped a gold nugget down the chimney thinking the farmer would see it and pay his debt.
f. The nugget bounced into one of the socks
g. The next morning while putting on her socks his daughter found the miracle.
h. News spread and everyone started looking in their stockings for miracle.

II. The Christmas Tree-popular carol-“O Tannebaum, O Tannebaum, how lovely are your branches…”
a. The church began to use various types of symbols to celebrate Christmas.
b. In A.D. 680 St. Boniface, a German bishop, was walking through a field in the dead of winter.
i. He noticed that the trees, grass, and other plant life were leafless and lifeless.
ii. He suddenly saw an evergreen tree.
iii. It was the only tree in the field that looked alive.
iv. He noticed that it seemed to make a point like an arrow pointing upward.
v. It caused him to drop to his knees and praise God.
vi. Knowing he could not bring everyone out to the tree he cut the tree and brought it to them.
vii. He took the magnificent symbol of life back to the church to illustrate how God brings life in the midst of winter.
viii. His sermon was the talk of the town and his object lesson would soon change history.
ix. For months everyone talked about his tree sermon and they began to bring trees into their homes as a reminder to worship God.
x. They called the trees Tannenbaums-meaning evergreen tree.
c. Years later the reformer, Martin Luther, was admiring a starlit night. It motivated him to worship in such a way that he tried to duplicate it by putting candles on his tree. This shrine of inspiration prompted worship in all who admired it. It wasn’t long before many people throughout Germany lit their trees to fill their homes with the inspiration of a starlit night.

III. The Christ-Mass Season Grows-A.D. 700 and Beyond
a. Holly
i. England-Christians noticed that holly was green like the evergreen during the winter.
ii. They began to hang holly on their doors.
iii. When asked about the new strange decoration, they gave this explanation:
1. The holly on the front door is in the shape of the crown of thorns and red berries provided the inspiration note that Christ was born to die for the sins of man.
2. When holly wasn’t available, various types of evergreen branches were used to form the crown of thorns and red ribbons were used to symbolize the flow of blood from the Savior’s head.
3. This is the beginning of the Christmas Wreath.
b. Candles in the Window.
i. Symbolize the star in the sky that pointed the way to the baby in the manger. This baby was the hope of the world.
ii. Soon Christmas became the season of HOPE.
iii. It soon became apparent that the best way to glorify God was through gestures of goodwill.
iv. The candles in the window was to help light the way for the less fortunate of their community.
v. It was also a message that anyone could receive food at that house.
c. The ringing of Christmas Bells.
i. Throughout history the ringing of bells was an alarm system.
ii. It was customary to place bell towers in places that the public might gather.
iii. Many Churches and city halls had bells place atop of their buildings.
iv. The ringing of these bells was for emergency town meetings, fires, or special occasions.
v. The church decided to ring the bells on the eve of the Christmas to alert the devil that the church was alive and well and serving a risen savior.
d. Giving and Receiving Gifts.
i. The origin dates back all the way to the birth of Christ.
ii. It was continued through the church as people would bring a gift and the church would give to the less fortunate.
iii. Later Christian families would give one give to each other
iv. Retailers have capitalized on this generosity and giving today, for many, is an obligation, but it doesn’t have to be with Christ at the center of your Christmas.
e. Christmas Carols
i. The word comes from the Italian word-carolare-a traditional dance routine of circular movements similar to a modern-day square dance.
ii. This dance was performed during special occasions especially during Christmas.
iii. Italian shepherds would come down from the hillsides into the towns and dance the carolare at Christmas to spread joy from house to house.
iv. Later some began to write lyrics to go with the music…these became the first carols.
v. The streets were filled with music, dance, and festivity about the Christ child who was born in a manger to redeem mankind.
f. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song
i. Why would anyone want to give their true love
1. 12 drummers drumming
2. 11 pipes piping
3. 10 lords a leaping
4. 9 ladies dancing
5. 8 maids a milking
6. 7 swans a swimming
7. 6 geese a laying
8. 5 golden rings
9. 4 calling birds
10. 3 french hens
11. 2 turtle doves
12. And a partridge in a pear tree
ii. who would really want 50 people jumping, dancing, and playing drums and pipes, five gold rings, and 23 birds for Christmas?
iii. Orginated in 1558 in a Catholic school room
iv. It was not permitted to own a Bible
v. To speak of scriptures was forbidden unless they were taught by a priest or qualified instructor
vi. The true love of the song is none other than God Himself.
1. Partridge in a Pear Tree-is actually the Savior Hanging on a tree. The original implication was that the partridge was injured and stranded in the tree.
2. 2 Turtledoves-Old Testament and New Testament
3. 3 French Hens-3 great virtues faith, hope, and love.
4. 4 calling birds-four gospels declaring the Good News
5. 5 Golden Rings-were actually golden threads that weaved the first 5 books of the bible together called the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)
6. 6 geese a laying-six days of creation
7. 7 swans a swimming-7 gifts of the spirit. We understand nine today but in that day wisdom and knowledge and gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues were combined. The swimming reminded them of the Holy Spirit’s symbol of water.
8. 8 maids a milking-eight Beatitudes taught by Christ. They had to do with serving which made milking maids the ideal resemblance.
9. 9 ladies dancing-nine aspects of the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit produces a life of love, joy, and peace as portrayed in the ladies’ festive dance.
10. 10 lords a leaping-the Ten Commandments. Laws were heralded by lords, thus reminding them of the ten laws of God.
11. 11 pipers piping-11 faithful disciples. Christ led them like a piper leads a group.
12. 12 drummers drumming-12 points to their Apostles’ Creed.
vii. So if you sang it according to it’s meaning.
1. 12 rules of living
2. 11 disciples
3. 10 great commandments
4. 9 fruits of the spirit
5. 8 Beatitudes
6. 7 gifts of the spirit
7. 6 days of Creation
8. 5 Books of the Law
9. 4 Books of Gospel
10. 3 Christian virtues
11. 2 Testaments
12. And a Savior hanging on a tree.