TODAY ON "CHRISTIAN WORLD
NEWS" IT'S A ONE IN A MILLION
MILESTONE.
WE WILL GO ON A SPECIAL
OPERATION CHILD DELIVERY.
AND AN EXTREME CHRISTMAS
MAKE-OVER FOR VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
AND EVEN YEAR HEARING THE
CLASSIC STORY OF CHRISTMAS
CAROL, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
FAITH THAT INFLUENCED THE
WRITING OF CHARLES DICKENS.
AND WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS EDITION OF "CHRISTIAN
WORLD NEWS," EVERY CHRISTMAS
GIFT-FILLED SHOE BOXES BRING JOY
TO MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AROUND
THE WORLD.
IT'S A MINISTRY THAT HAS GONE ON
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
AND ONE SHOE BOX MADE ITS WAY
FROM WISCONSIN TO THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC.
GEORGE HAS THE STORY OF THE SHOE
BOX.
HI.
MY NAME IS EVELYN.
AND I AM 12 YEARS OLD.
THIS IS THE STORY OF A YOUNG
GIRL FROM A SMALL TOWN IN
WISCONSIN.
WITH A BIG DREAM.
I HAVE WANTED TO HELP THE
POOR FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
I WAS TRYING SINCE I WAS SIX TO
HELP THE POOR.
EVELYN'S PRAYER WAS ANSWERED
WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT OPERATION
CHRISTMAS CHILD.
AN OUTREACH LED BY FRANKLIN
GRAHAM, THE SON OF BILLY GRAHAM.
THE IDEA IS TO FILL GIFT BOXES
AND SEND TO NEEDY CHILDREN
AROUND THE WORLD.
YOU WOULDN'T THINK THIS COULD
HAVE THAT IMPACT BUT FOR KIDS IN
AREAS OF DUMPS AND CONFLICT WAR.
TO GIVE THEM A GIFT THAT SOMEONE
KNOW WHO IS THEY ARE AND CARES
ABOUT THEM AND LOVES THEM.
EVELYN WAS THAT SOMEBODY.
SHE STARTED A SHOE-BOX CLUB AT A
LITTLE 8.
SHE STARTED YOUNG AND DONE A
LOT.
WE HAVE DONE THIS FOR FOUR
YEARS, AND IN THOSE YEARS WE
HAVE PACKED 2,000 SHOE BOXES.
I WANT TO TELL KIDS ABOUT JESUS,
KIDS HELPING KIDS IS MY MOTTO.
YOU SEE HER SHOE BOXES
TOUCHED MILLIONS OF LIVES
TOUCHED BY KINDNESS.
10 MILLION SHOE BOXES WILL BE
HAND DELIVERED THIS YEAR, BY
AIR, TRAINS AND EVEN BY ELEPHANT
ELEPHANTS.
IN DECEMBER REACHING A MILESTONE
DELIVERY SHOE BOXES TO 100
MILLION CHILDREN SINCE 1993.
INSPIRED BY HER PASSION TO HELP
THE POOR, 12-YEAR-OLD EVELYN WAS
PICKED BY OPERATION CHRISTMAS
CHILD TO DELIVER THE 100 MILLION
SHOE BOX IN THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC.
SHE TURNED TO HER FRIENDS AT THE
SHOE BOX CLUB FOR HELP.
THEY DECORATED IT WITH WHITE
PAPER COVERED WITH HAND PRINTS
FROM ALL THE CHILDREN SERVING IN
THE GROUP.
THANKS EVERYONE.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT
YOU GUYS.
THEN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
I LOVE YOU.
I AM PROUD OF YOU.
LOVE YOU.
YOU ARE SO AWESOME, SWEETIE.
THANKS DAD.
SHE CRISS-CROSSED AROUND THE
COUNTRY TAKING THE BOX ON TOUR.
AT EACH STOP PEOPLE PUT
DIFFERENT MOMENTOS IN THE BOX.
AND THEN ON A RECENT WEDNESDAY
MORNING.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE SITTING
IN A CAR TRAVELING THROUGH A
CITY, WE WERE IN NEW YORK,
DREAMING ABOUT THIS MOMENT.
AND NOW WE ARE HERE.
ARE YOU OVERWHELMED?
I AM, I AM.
PRACTICING MY SPANISH.
THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HER
HOME IN WISCONSIN.
WOW, FINALLY HERE.
EVELYN'S PRAYER OF HELPING
NEEDY CHILDREN WAS ANSWERED.
[APPLAUSE]
WELL, IT'S A SIMPLE BOX WITH
SIMPLE TOYS.
IN THIS PARTICULAR BOX THERE IS
A STUFFED ANIMAL AND TISSUES AND
HYGIENE MATERIAL.
A BOOK.
BUT YOU KNOW FOR OPERATION
CHRISTMAS CHILD A SIMPLE BOX WAY
POWERFUL MESSAGE.
EACH BOX DELIVERED TO THESE KIDS
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
AT EACH DISTRIBUTION THE GOSPEL
IS SHARED.
AND CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
CHRIST THROUGH A 12-WEEK
DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM.
GOD IT DO ANYTHING, AND IF
YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN DO
ANYTHING WITH YOU, ANYTHING CAN
HAPPEN.
I AM FINALLY HERE IN DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC.
I CAN DELIVER THIS BOX TO A
SMALL GIRL.
IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
EVELYN HANDED HER THE SPECIAL
SCHOOL BOX, FILLED WITH SCHOOL
SUPPLIES AND PAINT AND A BIBLE.
THE TWO GIRLS SPENT TIME GOING
THROUGH THE PRESENTS.
ONE SPECIAL ITEM WAS A
HEART-SHAPED NECKLACE LABELED,
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.
BREAKING IT INTO AND GAVE ONE
HALF TO EVELYN AS A MOMENTO OF A
SPECIAL BOND.
CBN NEWS IN THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC.
AND CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO
SHOW OTHERS JUST HOW MUCH WE
APPRECIATE THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATED A
BUSINESSMAN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
TO DEVELOP A VOLUNTEER PROJECT
THAT IS BRINGING CHRISTMAS CHEER
TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S A CHILLY DECEMBER
MORNING WITH THIS GROUP OF YOUNG
VOLUNTEERS HARD AT WORK.
THEY ARE SPRUCING UP THIS
TOWNHOUSE AND DECORATING FOR
CHRISTMAS.
THE HOME BELONGS TO TONY KENNEDY
AND HIS WIFE, SILVIA.
TONY A 15-YEAR VETERAN OF THE
ARMY, A MARINE.
FOUGHT IN THE WAR IN IRAQ, HE'S
NOT USED TO BEING ON THE
RECEIVING END OF SERVICE.
BUT GETTING USED TO IT.
THIS IS DECORATED FOR VETS.
JESS JONES STARTED THE EFFORT
THREE YEARS AGO.
HIS MOTIVATION CAME FROM HIS
FATHER AND GRANDFATHER'S
MILITARY SERVICE.
HIS MISSION IS SIMPLE.
WE DO EVERYTHING FROM LEAF
BLOWING AND MULCHING, AND
INSTALLING PATIOS AND LAST YEAR
WE REPLACED GUTTERS AND A ROOF.
WE DID A HOUSE LAST YEAR THAT
WAS $8,000 OF WORK.
AND THE HOUSE BEHIND US IS
DECORATING.
IT RANGES FROM A SIMPLE CLEAN UP
TO A BIG RENOVATION.
AND A LOT HAPPENS
BEHIND-THE-SCENBEHIND THE
SCENES.
HOME DEPOT DONATED DECORATIONS.
AND A SWIM TEAM.
WE WANT TO DECORATE WITH
PRIDE.
JONES SAYS HIS EXPERIENCE ON
THE MISSION FIELD HELPS HIM WITH
ALL OF THAT.
IT ACTUALLY GAVE ME A LEG-UP
ON HOW TO DO IT.
HOW TO FIND PEOPLE.
HOW TO SELECT PEOPLE.
HOW TO ORGANIZE PEOPLE AND FIND
DONATION AND VOLUNTEERS.
AND MISSION WORK WAS DEFINITELY
A STEP INTO DOING IT.
DECORATED VET DECORATES SIX
TO EIGHT HOMES EACH CHRISTMAS.
TONY KENNEDY'S WIFE SAW A LOCAL
NEWS STORY AND SUBMITTED HIS
NAME.
I THOUGHT IF I COULD BRING
HOLIDAY CHEER TO MY HUSBAND THIS
CHRISTMAS SEASON, I WANTED THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
THE VOLUNTEERS CLEANED UP THE
YARD.
MADE WREATHS AND HUNG LIGHTS AND
DECORATED TWO CHRISTMAS TREES.
ONE OUTSIDE AND ONE INSIDE.
THE KIDS ARE MOVING WITH THE
PRECISION OF A MILITARY UNIT.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.
WOW.
TONY IS NOT WORKING RIGHT
NOW.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE
REASON WHY I CONTACTED THE
ORGANIZATION.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN
-- I FEEL SO BLESSED THAT PEOPLE
ARE SO GIVING OF THEIR TIME.
THE FACT THAT THESE YOUNG
KIDS WOULD COME OUT HERE AND DO
SOMETHING FOR ME ON A SATURDAY.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.
I TOLD MY WIFE, IT WAS PROBABLY
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT I GOT
IN MY LIFE.
WITH THE CHILDREN OF
PRISONERS IN LIMA, PERU, WHEN A
VOLUNTEER FROM THEIR CHURCH
BROUGHT NEWS, HERE HOLDING A
CHRISTMAS PARTY IN A DANGEROUS
PERUVIAN PRISON.
THESE LADIES LINED UP WITH
THE EVENT FOR MOST DANGEROUS
PRISON IN SOUTH AMERICA.
THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE
THIS PRISON IS FOR 2,400 PEOPLE.
BUT NOW THERE ARE MORE THAN
10,000.
PRISONERS KNOWN FOR THEIR
VIOLENCE, GANGS AND DRUG
ADDITION.
SEEING THE PROBLEM UP CLOSE, FOR
YEARS SHE'S COME TO HELP THE
PRISONERS AND THE FAMILIEFAMILIES.
AND TODAY SHE CAME BACK WITH
GIFTS OF HOT CHOCOLATE AND MORE.
WE HAVE ORGANIZED FOR EIGHT
YEARS TOGETHER WITH ORPHAN
PROMISE TO HELP US BUY FOR THE
PRISONERS.
FOR A NEW HOURS THE GYM
FILLED UP WITH MUSIC, SANTA'S
HELPERS AND CHILDREN AND
HAPPINESS.
MEMBERS OF THE PRISON S CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP HELPED.
SOME HAD THEIR FACES PAINTED AND
OTHERS DANCED WITH THE CLOWNS.
AND THE CHILDREN WATCHED THE
ANIMATED RELEASE OF CHRISTMAS IN
THE NEW SUPERBOOK SERIES.
TAKING THE TIME TO INVITE
PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO MAKE
ROOM FOR THE CHILD IN THE
MANGER.
IT'S A MANGER.
AND IN THIS MANGER IT'S
DESCRIBED AS THE SON OF GOD
WANTS TO BE BORN RIGHT NOW.
AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM,
OVER 360 CHILDREN RECEIVED
GIFTS.
PROBABLY THEIR ONLY CHRISTMAS
GIFT THIS YEAR.
AND MORE THAN 200 PARENTS AND
CHILDREN ASKED THE SAME JESUS
WHO WAS BORN IN A MANGER TO
BECOME THEIR FRIEND AND SAVIOUR.
STAN JETER, CBN NEWS.
COMING UP, CHARLES DICKENS
WROTE ONE OF THE GREATEST
CHRISTMAS CLASSICS EVER.
BUT DID HE BELIEVE HIS OWN
STORY.
WE BEING TELL YOU THE FAITH
BEHIND CHRISTMAS CAROL WHEN WE
RETURN.
IT BEGAN IN A PRAYER MEETING.
WHERE A COVENANT WAS MADE.
AND GREW INTO THE MOST POWERFUL
AND PROSPEROUS NATION THE WORLD
HAS EVER KNOWN.
BUT HAS AMERICA BROKEN ITS
COVENANT WITH GOD?
CAN THAT COVENANT BE RENEWED?
DOES GOD STILL HAVE A PLAN FOR
AMERICA?
*
WELCOME BACK TO "CHRISTIAN
WORLD NEWS," IT'S A HOLIDAY
TRADITION FOR MANY FAMILIES,
WATCHING CHARLES DICKEN'S
CHRISTMAS CAROL.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIS WORK, FEW
KNOW ABOUT HIS FAITH.
WHAT IS TODAY?
TODAY?
WELL, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY OF
COURSE.
FROM THE SCREEN TO THE STAGE.
THE TRANSFORMATION FROM EBENEZER
SCROOGE FROM MISER TO GIVER,
STRIKES A CORD IN THE HEARTS OF
MANY, INCLUDING CHILDREN.
*
ALL OF THESE VERSIONS ARE THE
RESULT OF CHARLES DICKEN'S
CLASSIC NOVEL, A CHRISTMAS
CAROL.
THE ENGLISH WRITER LOVED THE
HOLIDAY.
HE WAS QUOTED SAYING, I WILL
HONOR CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART AND
TRY TO KEEP IT ALL THE YEAR.
MANKIND WAS MY BUSINESS AND
CHARITY AND MERCY AND
BENEVOLENCE WERE ALL OF MY
BUSINESS.
STUDYING DICKEN'S
EXTENSIVELY, AND EARNED AN HONOR
IN ST. ANDREWS ABOUT DICKENS.
THAT IDEA OF DICKENS, THE
TERM REAL CHRISTIANITY, A NUMBER
OF TIMES IN HIS LETTERS AND
WRITING, REAL CHRISTIANITY IS
BEING LIKE JESUS.
EARLY HE DISCOVERED THAT
DICKENS IS A CHRISTIAN AND HIS
THEMES THROUGH HIS WRITINGS.
ALL OF MY WRITINGS ARE
DERIVED FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT.
ALL OF MY GOOD PEOPLE ARE
HUMBLE, CHARITABLE, FAITHFUL AND
FORGIVING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I CLAIM THEM IN EXPRESSED WORDS
AS DISCIPLES AS THE FOUNDER OF
OUR RELIGION.
IN THE CHRISTMAS CAROL,
TALKING ABOUT SCROOGE AND HOW TO
LIVE LIFE.
THINKING ABOUT HUMANITY AND
TO DO UNTO OTHERS A WOULD HAVE
THEM TO DO ME.
FOR DICKENS THE GOLDEN RULE WAS
CRUCIAL.
COLLINS BELIEVES THAT THE
DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE OF DICKENS
IS THIS WORK WRITTEN FOR HIS
CHILDREN, ENTITLED, THE RIGHTS
OF MY LORD.
CRITICS ARE RIGHT, IT'S NOT A
GREAT PIECE OF LITERATURE.
BUT IT SHINES A BRIGHT LIGHT ON
DICKEN'S FAITH.
HE'S THE SOLE EDITOR THIS THING.
COLLINS CALLS, THE LIGHT OF
OUR LORD, A GOSPEL HARMONY.
IN THIS CASE DICKEN'S SUMMARIZES
THE LIFE OF CHRIST FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION, HIS CHILDREN.
MY DEAR CHILDREN, I AM
ANXIOUS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST.
GOSPEL HARMONIES WERE KNOWN
DURING THAT TIME, A FAMILY WOULD
HAVE TWO BOOKS IN THIS HOME.
THE BIBLE AND THE GOSPEL OF
HARMONY.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN
IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE DICKEN'S
FAMILY FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
AND CHRISTIAN THINKING.
COLLINS SAYS THAT FEW PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT THIS WORK OF DICKENS
OR HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH.
CRITICS DISMISSED THIS AS
UNIMPORTANT AND SUPERFICIAL AND
EDUCATORS FOLLOWED SUIT.
AND EVEN COLLINS FOUND HIMSELF
CRITICIZED IN HIS DISSERTATION
AT ST. ANDREWS.
THAT I WOULD BE SO AUDACIOUS
THAT THIS MAN WAS A MAN OF
FAITH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT
HOSTILITY THAN PEOPLE LIKE
DARWIN BETTER THAN LIGHT.
AND FOR THOSE DISCUSSING THE
FAITH OF DICKENS, TO SHINE THE
LIGHT ON ONE OF THE GREATEST
WRITERS IN HISTORY.
COLLINS BELIEVES THAT GOD WANTED
TO WRITE THIS BOOK, A BOOK
RELEASED THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF DICKEN'S
BIRTH.
ALL OF THAT WAS PROVIDED BY
OUR LORD, IT WAS ACTUALLY EASY
TO GET A PUBLISHER.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE, BUT IT'S A
GOOD FEELING WHEN YOU KNOW THE
SPIRIT OF GOD IS INVOLVED.
AND THIS IS NOT YOUR PROJECT.
HE DEDICATES THE BOOK TO HIS
GRANDCHILDREN, WRITING, MAY YOU
EACH FIND JOY AS DID DICKEN'S IN
OUR SAVIOUR.
COMING UP THE NATIVITY IN
OLIVE-WOOD, HOW THIS MAN BRINGS
THE HOLY FAMILY TO HIS ART.
GUESS WHO IS MISSING FROM
CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM THIS
YEAR?
THAT'S A CAMPAIGN NAMED IN A
YOUTUBE VIDEO.
AND ONE PASTOR DECIDED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, I
HAVE NOTICED LESS AND LESS OF
CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS, AND MORE
AND MORE OF SANTA CLAUS EVEN IN
THE HEART OF BETHLEHEM.
I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SAY
CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE.
YES, EVERYONE CAN CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE
JESUS OUT.
CHRISTMAS IS NOT WITHOUT JESUS.
AND CORY PUT THIS MESSAGE IN
THE BUSIEST STREET IN BETHLEHEM
THAT SAYS:
PERSECUTION HAS DRIVEN MANY
CHRISTIANS OUT OF THE BETHLEHEM
AREA.
THEY HAVE DROPPED FROM 80% TO
10% OF THE POPULATION.
BETHLEHEM NEAR THE BIRTHPLACE OF
JESUS THAT TURNS OLIVEWOOD INTO
THE CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON.
ONE MAN HAS BEEN WORKING IN
THIS OLIVEWOOD WORKSHOP SINCE A
BOY, INHERITING AN ART THAT IS
PASSED FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION.
THERE IS NO SCHOOL TO LEARN
THIS JOB.
AND ALSO WHAT COMES FROM YOUR
INSIDE, YOUR HEART.
MOST OF HIS CARVINGS
REPRESENT THE SCENES AND
CHARACTERS OF THE BIBLE.
AND AS HE SAYS, IT'S WHAT IS IN
YOUR HEART.
I AM HAPPY WITH JESUS.
HIS MAIN CARVINGS ARE
NATIVITY SCENES.
HE'S PRODUCED A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT STYLES, BUT
CELEBRATING THE SAME THING, THE
BIRTH OF JESUS.
SHOWING HOW ONE PIECE OF WOOD
CAN BECOME A CHRISTMAS SCENE.
FIRST HE CUTS THE WOOD.
NEXT HE SANDS IT TO MAKE IT
SMOOTH.
AND NEXT WITH THE SKILLS HONED
FROM 35 YEARS OF CARVING, HE
CUTS BY HAND OF THE CHARACTER OF
THE NATIVITY.
AND FINALLY HE INSCRIBES A
PERSONAL GREETING.
GOING ALL OVER INCLUDING CENTRAL
AMERICA, HE HOPES THAT HIS
CARVINGS WILL BE A SPECIAL GIFT
AT CHRISTMAS OR ANY TIME OF THE
YEAR.
BUT WANTS PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE
TRUE MEANING OF THE SEASON.
THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
IS TO GO TO THE CHURCH AND PRAY
FOR JESUS.
AND TO CLEAN EVERYTHING INSIDE
AND BE A NEW PERSON.
THIS IS PAT ROBERTSON, THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT TIME IN THE
HISTORY OF AMERICA.
IT'S IN AN IMPORTANT TIME OF THE
HISTORY OF THE CBN.
AND WHAT YOU DO IS VERY
IMPORTANT NOW.
WE GOT TO GET THE GOSPEL OUT
HERE IN AMERICA.
AND WE HAVE TO HELP THE POOR AND
NEEDY.
FEED THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY.
CLOTHE THOSE WHO ARE NAKED.
AND BRING MEDICAL ATTENTION TO
THOSE SUFFERING.
AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, BRING
HOPE TO THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT
HOPE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
SO YOUR "700 CLUB" MEMBERSHIP
MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I ASK YOU TO CALL IN, WE
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
DON'T SLACK, WE DON'T WANT OUR
HANDS TO BE EMPTY.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, LORD,
HERE ARE THOSE THAT CAN COME TO
YOU BECAUSE OF MY LABORS.
AND THE PHONES ARE AVAILABLE,
TOLL-FREE LINE.
WE THANK GOD FOR EACH ONE OF
YOU.
DON'T HESITATE TO CALL AND DO IT
NOW.
WHEN YOU GIVE SMILES GROW
BIGGER.
WHEN YOU CARE, HOMES ARE
HAPPIER.
WHEN YOU COMFORT,
THE HURT GOES AWAY.
WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO
LOVE, MIRACLES HAPPEN.
"CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS" YOUR
WINDOW TO THE LOCAL CHURCH.
FOR STORIES OF REVIVAL.
PERSECUTION.
AND THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN
LEADERS.
WATCH "CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS."
THIS TIME OF YEAR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ABLAZE WITH
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
RECENTLY WENDY TALKED WITH
AUTHOR, ACE COLLINS ABOUT THIS
COLORFUL TRADITION.
ACE, NOTHING IS MORE THAN THE
SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTMAS THAN
SEEING THESE HOMES WITH THE
LIGHTING.
WHEN DID THIS TRADITION BEGIN?
IN THE 1940S AND 50S, IS WHEN
IT STARTED.
BECAUSE WHEN LIGHTS BECAME
AFFORDABLE, AND WE WERE IN AN
AUTOMOTIVE AGE, AND PILE IN CARS
AND GO LOOK AT LIGHTS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT IT STARTED REALLY WITH
MARTIN LUTHER, HE TIED A CANDLE
ON A TREE.
AND I DOUBT HE ENVISIONED ALL OF
THIS TAKING PLACE.
THAT CANDLE IN THAT TREE TO HIM
REPRESENTED THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.
AND THAT LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATING
THE WORLD AND THESE CHRISTMAS
LIGHTS REPRESENT THAT
ILLUMINATION.
IS THERE A MEANING BEHIND THE
DIFFERENT COLORS?
THERE IS, THE WHITE IS THE
PURITY OF CHRIST.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RED LIGHTS
THAT REPRESENT THE BLOOD OF
CHRIST THAT WAS SHED ON THE
CROSS.
AND WE HAVE THE GREEN LIGHTS
THAT REPRESENT LIKE THE
EVERGREEN TREE, EVERLASTING
LIFE.
THINGS THAT DON'T DIE IN THE
BLEAKEST TIMES.
SO THE LIGHTS HAVE A BIG IMPACT
IN THE SEASON.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON
IS THEY REMIND US OF THE LIGHT
OF JESUS CHRIST.
THINK OF THAT, ONE LIGHT THAT
ILLUMINATED THE MANGER TO LIGHT
ALL THE WORLD.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK, GOOD-BYE AND
GOD BLESS YOU.