¤[Theme music]¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
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No, December the 25th is not
the actual birthday of Jesus.
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More than likely, there
were not three Wise Men who came
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to visit Jesus and His family.
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We say three Wise Men
because gold, frankincense,
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and myrrh--that's three.
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But the Bible
doesn't say three Wise Men.
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It simply says Wise Men.
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Yes, at Christmas time there are
many people who eat too much,
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drink too much, spend too much.
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But for all of that,
it's the one time of the year
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that touches hearts and
impacts families like no other.
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Christmas is still that
time of the year where we say,
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"Peace on earth and
goodwill towards men."
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And by and large, we mean it.
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Christmas, even though
there is no biblical command
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to remember the birth of Jesus,
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gives us the
opportunity to remember
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and to tell and to celebrate
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and to share the
greatest story ever told.
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So what does
Christmas mean to you?
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The Christmas story is
the most remarkable story
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about how God came near--
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in fact, how Jesus
visited this sinful earth.
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And He came to this
earth to bring to you and me
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the gift of salvation.
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So what does
Christmas mean to you?
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I spoke to some
friends and asked them
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what is special to
them about Christmas,
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and the responses I
received reveal to me that
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there's a power in Christmas.
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Not a magic.
Something far greater.
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There's something
special about Christmas day
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that manages to touch
hearts and impact lives.
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There's something special
about the Christmas season
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that reminds us
of a greater purpose,
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of a great God who loved this
world so very much that He gave.
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>>Woman 1: Christmas when
I was a child was very fun.
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I grew up in Puerto Rico,
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so it was, you
know, tropical scenery.
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It was just, it
was always surrounded,
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um, by a lot of lively music,
a lot of just fun with family,
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a lot of stories
from the olden days.
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>>Man 1: Well, we were
pretty traditional when we were,
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when we were kids.
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Um, you know, we kinda
did the whole Santa thing
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at that point in time.
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And so, you know, family
was always the cornerstone.
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>>Man 2: Well,
when I was a child,
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of course we always
looked forward to Christmas.
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We weren't a real close family,
but, um, yeah, Christmas time--
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my dad worked for
Sears and Roebuck,
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so there were a
lot of toys available.
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My favorite, of
course, was the train.
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The train around the Christmas
tree--that was always fun.
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>>Man 3: For me, Christmas
was a lot of getting together
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with family and just
spending time together.
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We did get toys
when we were growing up,
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and I would say
that probably the one toy
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that I remember the
most was a Lego train set.
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I really, really
wanted this Lego train set,
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and I, for some reason,
remember how expensive it was.
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It was $199, and
that was a lot of money--
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a lot of money that
my parents did not have
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when I was growing up.
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But I begged and I
begged and I begged,
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and somehow they
came up with the money.
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Only later did I find out my
grandma had bought it for me.
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>>Man 4: I'm Filipino, and so--
and I'm also a pastor's kid--
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and so Christmas for
me has never really been,
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uh, just a family thing.
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It's more so been church
and friends and all of that.
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Whenever
Christmas time comes around,
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there's always been a
party where all of my friends
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and all of my church family
could just, like, come together
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and just be in
each other's company.
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>>Woman 2: Well, as an islander,
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a lot of things that
we like to do is eat,
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[laughs] as you can see.
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It's always been a big thing
with, like, meals, meal prep,
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um, sometimes we spend
all night cooking things
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'cause family
come from far and near.
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So food has always been a
big thing for Christmas for us.
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It was more, more food
than the gifts. [laughs]
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>>Boy: You, you get
to eat good suppers,
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and you get to spend
time with your families.
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>>Man 5: Yeah, Christmas
growing up as a child, um,
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a lot of food, a lot
of music, family members,
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um, just a big community
of people coming together.
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And, um, the highlight is,
uh, growing up in a neighborhood
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where kids were just, like,
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entering into
each other's homes,
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and, uh, there
was food everywhere.
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You know, you'd walk
into this home Christmas Eve,
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and there's,
there's food on the table.
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You'd eat it and talk
with your friends and play.
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So Christmas was just a
whole big community event.
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>>John: What's your
favorite Christmas memory?
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>>Woman 1: I'd probably
have to say the Christmas
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that my grandma was
able to come from Ecuador
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to visit us for the first time.
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Like, I got to meet her.
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I was kinda
nervous, actually, 'cause I,
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I didn't know what to expect.
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But it was fun; it
turned out really fun.
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She had a lot of stories and,
like, new traditions for us,
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so that was a
really good Christmas.
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>>Woman 3: One of the ones
that stands out a lot to me
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is one Christmas when, uh, one
of my sisters had gone through
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a huge, like, a health
crisis, and she'd nearly died,
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and our money
was, like, really low.
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We didn't have
money for presents;
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uh, we didn't have
money for a Christmas tree,
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which we always
try to get every year,
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and we were feeling pretty
down in the dumps and sad.
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And, uh, we heard
on the radio one day
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that there's this place
that had Christmas trees
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that they're just
gonna give away for free.
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So two days before
Christmas, we go down at night
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to see what they had, and
they had about, I don't know,
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a dozen or so Christmas
trees, and we picked one out.
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It was big, tall, beautiful,
maybe like 9 or 10 feet or so,
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and brought it
back and decorated it.
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And I can't remember if anybody
scrounged up presents or not,
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but we loved the tree
and just looking at it,
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looking at the lights.
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And it just, it cheered us up.
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And that's one of
my favorite memories.
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>>Woman 4: We had
invited this couple that had
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three little
children under school age,
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and, uh, he was a
student, a theology student.
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And we invited
them for Christmas.
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And, um, I bought,
or had in mind at least,
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presents for them all.
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But, you know, men are hard
to buy for, so I asked the lady.
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[laughs] And she said there was
a kind of Bible that he wanted.
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Um, I don't remember the
name, and I had to order it.
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Anyway, when he
opened up his, uh, present,
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the look on his face-- the
surprise and the pleasure--
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was worth all
the effort. [laughs]
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I remember that more than the
children opening their gifts.
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I got to thinking,
you know, one day God's--
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Jesus is going to
introduce us to His Father,
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and I know the
Father won't be surprised
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because He knows everything,
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but I thought He'll certainly
have a pleased expression
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on His face, and I hope
to be there to see that.
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>>Man 2: My favorite
Christmas memory had to be...
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the day I asked
Phoebe to marry me.
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That really was exciting.
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Well, I was
going to, on an errand,
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waiting for her to get
done at the school of nursing.
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And I went down this
hill without realizing
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that I sped up.
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I put the brake on,
but it was too late.
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I told the policeman I'd just
driven clear across the country
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to get here, but he
wasn't even helpful.
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I had to go to court.
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My turn came, and,
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and he said,
"Well, how do you plead?"
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And I said, "Guilty, sir."
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And he leaned forward
like, "Well?" [laughs]
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What else could I do but
tell him my story? [laughs]
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And I said, "Well, maybe
it just goes to show that men
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about to get engaged to be
married shouldn't be driving."
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And the whole courtroom
started laughing. [laughs]
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And he laughed--first time.
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And he said, "What did she say?"
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And I said, "She said yes."
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And then he
said, "Mr. Cleveland,
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you can go out the free
door today. Merry Christmas."
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>>John: I'll be back
with more in just a moment.
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¤[Music]¤
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>>Announcer: The
gift of the Holy Spirit.
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But how do we take hold of it?
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To learn more, request
your free copy of the booklet
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"The Gift of the Spirit."
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Simply call 800-253-3000.
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That's 800-253-3000.
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You may also
write to It Is Written,
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PO Box 6 Chattanooga, TN 37401,
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or visit our
website at iiwoffer.com.
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>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
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on It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
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So what does
Christmas mean to you?
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What should
Christmas mean to you?
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I asked some people
what Christmas meant to them.
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Here's what they told me.
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>>Woman 5: Well, first of all,
it means the birth of Christ.
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He came into this world for
our sins, died for our sins,
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and He has made a...
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an extreme impression on me
throughout my whole lifetime.
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And I think about Him every day,
and what He went through for me.
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>>Woman 2: The first
thing that comes to mind
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when you say
"Christmas" is family.
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>>Man 6: And also Christmas,
of course, means food.
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You got to have a lot
of good food for Christmas.
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>>Man 7:
Christmas means my grandma.
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Super easy for her to
get in the spotlight 'cause
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she's always telling jokes
and always doing that stuff.
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So, I'd say it's her.
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>>Woman 6: It means a lot more,
um, now that I have my own kids.
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Um, I, I went through a
couple years where I was kind of
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the Grinch and didn't
really wanna, you know,
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deal with Christmas 'cause
it just seemed like a hassle
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before I had kids.
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Um, and now it's
just a whole lot more fun
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'cause you can kinda
relive it through them again.
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>>Man 2: It's such a blessing to
get together with your children,
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your grandchildren,
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and just be able to
really have time together.
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You know, the world
is in so much turmoil,
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and we hear it every day.
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But when that
family is together,
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when you're up in
that mountain cabin,
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and the snow is all around,
and, and you're telling stories,
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and, and you're making
Norwegian prune cookies,
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and, and, uh, just
enjoying each other,
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it just, it just
transports you to another place.
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And those are the
kind of moments I wished
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everybody could enjoy
because it's just so rewarding.
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>>John: What's the
most special Christmas gift
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that you've ever received?
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>>Man 6: [Laughs] The best
Christmas gift I ever received.
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Uh, it's kinda funny for--
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uh, I grew up with, uh,
three sisters, no brothers,
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and so every year
I was always like,
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"Mom, can I get a
brother for Christmas?"
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And she always was like, "No."
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And as an adult, I understand
the absurdity of that question,
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but as my sisters
have all gotten older,
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they've all married guys, so I
now have three brothers-in-law.
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And all of their anniversaries
are within a week of Christmas.
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So it's kind of a
reminder that, you know,
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I got my childhood
wish of having a brother.
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>>Woman 7: I think the
best gift I ever received
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was probably a music
box from my great-grandpa.
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Um, just the fact that it
was from him was a big factor
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'cause he hasn't
been around for a while.
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But, um, I mean, I had
been wanting one for a long time
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and just to finally
have it, and it was great,
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and it was so
pretty, and I just loved it.
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>>Man 7: I do remember the
present that my grandma gave
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to me, even though it was
not the most expensive one.
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It was just because we
saw, like, how much time
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she put on it, and, um, I
think just her face, like,
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when she gives the presents
to us, and she sees that, like,
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this was meant
for you, you know.
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So that made it extra special.
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>>Woman 1: I was already
almost a teenager, maybe,
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and we had moved
away from Puerto Rico.
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It was kind of a poor Christmas,
I guess you would say.
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And, um, my
parents didn't have much,
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and they decided
to-- what little we had,
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we just decided to
give it away to, like,
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just some charity or something.
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And it was just that lesson
that Christmas was still fun,
00:12:30.55\00:12:33.72
even though we didn't
have to have some fancy gadget.
00:12:33.75\00:12:36.45
That lesson has just
kinda stayed with me;
00:12:36.48\00:12:38.32
it was a different kind of gift.
00:12:38.35\00:12:41.49
>>Woman 5: Roller
skates I got one year.
00:12:41.52\00:12:43.32
We, I grew up
during the Depression,
00:12:43.36\00:12:45.16
and we were--
everybody was poor.
00:12:45.19\00:12:46.83
We didn't know we were
poor, but everybody was poor.
00:12:46.86\00:12:49.90
And I think the
year I got roller skates
00:12:49.93\00:12:51.77
I felt like I had gotten a
million-dollar gift. [laughs]
00:12:51.80\00:12:56.71
That was one of them.
00:12:56.74\00:12:58.17
Later on, in 1955, I got
my husband on Christmas day.
00:12:58.21\00:13:03.51
That's our anniversary,
00:13:03.55\00:13:05.41
and that was
probably my biggest Christmas.
00:13:05.45\00:13:08.65
>>John: If there was a gift
that you could give somebody
00:13:08.68\00:13:11.99
at Christmas
time, what would it be?
00:13:12.02\00:13:16.32
>>Man 5: Uh, an opportunity
for them to get better,
00:13:16.36\00:13:19.36
whatever that opportunity is,
00:13:19.39\00:13:21.13
and if it was within my power
to give them that opportunity,
00:13:21.16\00:13:24.53
you know, I would
give it to them as a gift--
00:13:24.57\00:13:25.93
be it a financial opportunity,
be it a job break, you know,
00:13:25.97\00:13:29.37
but an opportunity--
00:13:29.40\00:13:31.21
just an opportunity
for them to be better.
00:13:31.24\00:13:33.24
>>Man 6: Uh, if there was
any gift I could give anyone
00:13:33.27\00:13:37.28
in the world, um, I
would have a hard time
00:13:37.31\00:13:41.65
not giving something
super special to my parents,
00:13:41.68\00:13:45.09
just because, you
know, they raised me,
00:13:45.12\00:13:46.82
and they've given me a
whole lot over the years.
00:13:46.86\00:13:49.36
Um, and, uh, I'm now finally
at a, at a place in my life
00:13:49.39\00:13:54.73
where I can give good
gifts to my parents, so...
00:13:54.73\00:13:58.33
>>Man 1: My parents
have sacrificed a lot for us,
00:13:58.37\00:14:00.97
and, um, I'd like to give
something back to my mother.
00:14:01.00\00:14:04.21
Uh, so, you know,
pay off her mortgage
00:14:04.24\00:14:07.94
or something along that line--
just a way to say thank you.
00:14:07.98\00:14:12.58
>>Woman 1: I'd probably
try to reunite a family.
00:14:12.61\00:14:17.35
I've heard stories of people
that just go through so much,
00:14:17.39\00:14:21.89
and they're away from family,
00:14:21.92\00:14:23.43
and it just means the
world to them to be reunited.
00:14:23.46\00:14:25.79
So if I could do
that, that would probably be
00:14:25.83\00:14:27.40
the best gift I could give.
00:14:27.46\00:14:29.40
>>Man 2: You
know, as I get older,
00:14:29.43\00:14:31.07
um, I think it gets more real.
00:14:31.10\00:14:34.14
Somehow a gift of service--
maybe a mission trip together?
00:14:34.17\00:14:39.47
Um, something that
you're just so glad you did it
00:14:39.51\00:14:45.31
would be the kind of
gift I would want to give.
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.85
>>Man 3: The best gift that
I think I could probably give
00:14:47.88\00:14:50.12
to anybody, even if it's
somebody that I didn't know,
00:14:50.15\00:14:52.72
would probably
be to adopt a child.
00:14:52.75\00:14:56.26
I would think that would
be a good gift for somebody,
00:14:56.29\00:14:59.09
to give them a home, a
family that would love them.
00:14:59.13\00:15:02.46
>>John: And what do
you want for Christmas?
00:15:02.50\00:15:05.30
>>Girl: Presents!
00:15:05.33\00:15:06.70
>>Woman 1: A car would
be really nice. [laughs]
00:15:06.74\00:15:09.14
As a college
student, to have a car--
00:15:09.17\00:15:11.27
that would be really nice.
00:15:11.31\00:15:12.51
>>Woman 2: I think a laptop,
[laughs] a laptop for school.
00:15:12.54\00:15:15.91
>>Woman 7: More scholarships.
00:15:15.94\00:15:18.81
>>Man 1: Nothing. [laughs]
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.85
What makes a dad happy
for Christmas is his children
00:15:20.88\00:15:24.09
to be healthy and content,
00:15:24.12\00:15:25.65
and so their smiling
faces is, is all that I need.
00:15:25.69\00:15:31.36
>>Woman 4: You know,
I'm to the stage of life
00:15:31.39\00:15:32.96
where I'm getting
rid of some stuff--
00:15:32.99\00:15:35.33
I won't need
that anymore. [laughs]
00:15:35.36\00:15:37.47
Uh, just the fact
that my family is there;
00:15:37.50\00:15:41.90
they all love the Lord, and,
00:15:41.94\00:15:43.94
and that's special, and that's
what I want for Christmas.
00:15:43.97\00:15:48.38
>>Man 4: I just wanna be
at home, like, to be honest.
00:15:48.41\00:15:51.45
I'm the baby of
the family, and so, uh,
00:15:51.48\00:15:54.72
being away from
home for so long--
00:15:54.75\00:15:58.45
uh, it just makes me
wanna be back with my family--
00:15:58.49\00:16:03.02
my parents, my sister.
00:16:03.06\00:16:04.83
>>Man 2: Uh, more of
my wife-- time together.
00:16:04.86\00:16:09.40
>>Man 6: As a Christian, I
think what I would most want
00:16:09.43\00:16:12.30
for Christmas is
for Jesus to come again.
00:16:12.33\00:16:14.47
Um, I think any Christian
should want that for Christmas.
00:16:14.50\00:16:18.87
But you know, barring that,
00:16:18.91\00:16:22.21
I would not mind
having student loans paid off.
00:16:22.24\00:16:25.41
>>Man 5: Just to
spend time with family,
00:16:25.45\00:16:26.75
especially the
aging old in my family,
00:16:26.78\00:16:29.42
not knowing how long
they've got left to go in life,
00:16:29.45\00:16:32.39
but just to be with them.
00:16:32.42\00:16:33.62
>>Woman 5: There's nothing like
your family getting together
00:16:33.66\00:16:35.59
for Christmas, and I
would love to have them there,
00:16:35.62\00:16:38.36
and our grandchildren--all
of them, just the whole family.
00:16:38.39\00:16:42.30
>>Woman 6: Time with family--
uh, the more family the better.
00:16:42.33\00:16:45.50
And, um, I think just taking
in all parts of the holiday,
00:16:45.53\00:16:50.97
um, everything that
you can and, and making it
00:16:51.01\00:16:53.84
just a really special
time-- more than just a day--
00:16:53.88\00:16:56.48
uh, the whole season,
00:16:56.51\00:16:57.75
and talking about what's really
important, um, with your family.
00:16:57.78\00:17:02.82
I, I think that's
the most important thing.
00:17:02.85\00:17:04.89
>>Man 3: I don't think gifts
would make my Christmas better.
00:17:04.92\00:17:08.66
I'm past that stage now.
00:17:08.69\00:17:10.83
I think the only thing
that would make it better is
00:17:10.86\00:17:13.90
if I could be surrounded
by friends and family,
00:17:13.93\00:17:16.77
and really celebrate Christ and
the gifts that He's given to us.
00:17:16.80\00:17:21.07
>>John: I'll be right
back with more in a moment.
00:17:23.07\00:17:25.31
¤[Music]¤
00:17:25.34\00:17:32.98
>>John: Thank
you for remembering
00:17:33.98\00:17:34.98
that It Is Written exists
00:17:35.02\00:17:36.48
because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:17:36.52\00:17:39.29
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:17:39.32\00:17:42.59
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:17:42.62\00:17:46.83
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:17:46.86\00:17:48.30
to the address on your screen,
00:17:48.33\00:17:49.76
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:17:49.80\00:17:53.57
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:17:53.60\00:17:56.40
Our number
again is 800-253-3000.
00:17:56.44\00:18:00.41
Or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:18:00.44\00:18:03.85
[Fire crackling]
00:18:03.95\00:18:05.05
>>Girl: My mom woke up at
11:45, and she smelled smoke.
00:18:05.08\00:18:09.32
[Sirens wailing]
00:18:09.35\00:18:10.65
>>Man: About maybe
1:30 in the morning,
00:18:10.69\00:18:12.49
the, uh, my wife
got a phone call,
00:18:12.52\00:18:15.36
and I could hear the voice
on the other end of the line,
00:18:15.39\00:18:18.56
and she was
basically, uh, screaming,
00:18:18.59\00:18:21.66
"There is a fire!
00:18:21.70\00:18:22.63
It's massive!
It's headed your way!
00:18:22.66\00:18:24.23
You need to get
out, and get out now."
00:18:24.27\00:18:26.90
>>Woman: After I hear, "Fire,"
I hear in the background,
00:18:26.94\00:18:29.97
"The fire is two to four
blocks away from your house,"
00:18:30.01\00:18:32.51
and I panicked.
00:18:32.54\00:18:33.61
We started praying. Our
prayers didn't last long.
00:18:33.64\00:18:36.48
They were desperate;
they were, they were rushed.
00:18:36.51\00:18:40.65
There was a need;
00:18:40.68\00:18:41.58
it was urgent; it
was very, very urgent.
00:18:41.62\00:18:43.52
I said, "Please
save my children."
00:18:43.55\00:18:46.22
¤[Music]¤
00:18:46.25\00:18:49.49
>>John Bradshaw: Where
was God when the fires burned?
00:18:49.52\00:18:51.19
Where was God
as people suffered?
00:18:51.23\00:18:53.16
Where was God
while people were dying?
00:18:53.19\00:18:55.80
Where was God in the
midst of the devastation?
00:18:55.83\00:18:58.00
[Fire crackling]
00:18:58.03\00:19:03.84
>>John Bradshaw: So what
do you want for Christmas?
00:19:05.24\00:19:08.08
You know, Christmas is
one of life's great seasons
00:19:08.11\00:19:10.75
of perspective.
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.61
You get an
opportunity to ask yourself,
00:19:12.65\00:19:15.42
"What's really important?"
00:19:15.45\00:19:16.75
Because, of course, as
we look around society,
00:19:16.79\00:19:19.05
the emphasis is on--what?
00:19:19.09\00:19:20.96
Gifts and getting
and having and consuming.
00:19:20.99\00:19:24.66
And you and I both know
that at the end of the day,
00:19:24.69\00:19:26.80
even though there
are things that we want,
00:19:26.83\00:19:29.70
and there are
things we want to eat,
00:19:29.73\00:19:31.03
and there are
things we want to consume;
00:19:31.07\00:19:32.40
there are
things we want to have;
00:19:32.43\00:19:34.47
the having and
getting and consuming
00:19:34.50\00:19:35.87
and eating and
drinking and all of that--
00:19:35.90\00:19:38.14
it's not what
Christmas is really all about.
00:19:38.17\00:19:40.98
As I spoke with
multiple people about Christmas,
00:19:41.01\00:19:43.14
you know what came through?
00:19:43.18\00:19:44.48
They said, "What's
important to me? Grandma."
00:19:44.51\00:19:46.95
So if you're a
grandma, thank you.
00:19:46.98\00:19:49.95
It seems like you make
Christmas really special.
00:19:49.98\00:19:53.66
Keep doing what you're doing.
00:19:53.69\00:19:55.32
Family!
00:19:55.36\00:19:56.42
There's nothing like
getting together with family.
00:19:56.46\00:19:59.33
I live thousands
of miles from my--
00:19:59.36\00:20:02.63
not my immediate
family-- but my extended family,
00:20:02.66\00:20:05.70
and I see them
very infrequently.
00:20:05.73\00:20:08.70
So when people talk about
the joy of getting together
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.77
with family at Christmas, I say,
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.47
"Aw, yeah, I'd love
to be with my family."
00:20:12.51\00:20:16.14
People say, "The kids.
It's the kids that's important."
00:20:16.18\00:20:20.08
Now, you ask a
kid; the kid will say,
00:20:20.12\00:20:21.42
"Presents! I want
Legos! I wanna eat."
00:20:21.45\00:20:24.59
That child will get
old enough one day to say
00:20:24.62\00:20:26.42
what's most important
isn't the Legos and the gifts
00:20:26.45\00:20:30.09
and the food, but it's,
it's the kids--it's family.
00:20:30.13\00:20:35.50
You want enough time--
family time, togetherness.
00:20:35.53\00:20:39.80
What do you want for Christmas?
00:20:39.83\00:20:43.44
Now, it may be that what
I've done is I've painted
00:20:43.47\00:20:46.64
a Hallmark card.
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.98
Maybe we've--
we're guilty sometimes
00:20:49.01\00:20:51.18
of painting an
idyllic Christmas scene
00:20:51.21\00:20:53.25
because what we know
is that for many people,
00:20:53.28\00:20:56.65
this won't be a happy Christmas.
00:20:56.69\00:20:59.45
Maybe there's no
work, no job, no money.
00:20:59.49\00:21:01.42
Maybe you're just broke.
00:21:01.46\00:21:04.06
Happy Christmas.
00:21:04.09\00:21:05.59
Maybe you're
facing Christmas alone.
00:21:05.63\00:21:08.03
There's no one to
turn to, no one to hug,
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.90
no one to love,
no one to lean on,
00:21:09.93\00:21:11.87
no one to celebrate with, maybe.
00:21:11.90\00:21:14.14
There are many people in
that very situation right now.
00:21:14.17\00:21:17.81
Maybe bills are piling up.
00:21:17.84\00:21:20.41
Maybe you've
suffered terrible losses.
00:21:20.44\00:21:23.08
If not you, then certainly
somebody that you know.
00:21:23.11\00:21:28.15
If you lost your home in a fire,
00:21:28.18\00:21:31.72
then this Christmas is
gonna be very different
00:21:31.75\00:21:33.96
from any Christmas that
you've ever experienced before.
00:21:33.99\00:21:39.03
If someone has just
told you they want a divorce,
00:21:39.06\00:21:42.86
if your kids aren't
going to be home for Christmas,
00:21:42.90\00:21:47.00
Christmas can be a
really challenging time.
00:21:47.04\00:21:52.87
So what do we
really want for Christmas?
00:21:52.91\00:21:55.41
Well, we want grandma
and cookies and gifts,
00:21:55.44\00:21:57.55
and we want a
tree and a fireplace,
00:21:57.58\00:21:59.15
and we want the
family to come together.
00:21:59.18\00:22:02.72
Which leads me
to wonder something.
00:22:02.75\00:22:04.09
Can I share with you
something that I'm wondering?
00:22:04.12\00:22:07.62
I wonder if what we really want
is that which we don't yet have,
00:22:07.66\00:22:13.16
and that what
we cannot yet have.
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.67
Maybe what we
really want for Christmas,
00:22:16.70\00:22:20.90
maybe what we really want
for Christmas...is heaven.
00:22:20.94\00:22:25.87
Because it's only then
that family won't be separated.
00:22:25.91\00:22:30.41
It's only then that
there won't be any hardship.
00:22:30.45\00:22:35.02
It's only when we get to
heaven that there won't be
00:22:35.05\00:22:37.95
any mourning.
00:22:37.99\00:22:39.45
It's only when we get to heaven
00:22:39.49\00:22:41.29
there won't be
any grief and death,
00:22:41.32\00:22:44.06
won't be any lack
of anything at all.
00:22:44.09\00:22:47.76
Jesus came into this world,
00:22:47.83\00:22:49.40
born as a baby 2,000 years ago
in the little town of Bethlehem.
00:22:49.43\00:22:55.47
And why did He
come into this world?
00:22:55.50\00:22:57.97
Now, this is what you
don't see in manger scenes;
00:22:58.01\00:23:00.81
it's what you'll never see
written in slogans on signs
00:23:00.84\00:23:04.35
along Main Street.
00:23:04.38\00:23:06.51
According to the
Bible, Matthew 1:21 says
00:23:06.55\00:23:09.85
that Jesus came to this world to
save His people from their sins.
00:23:09.88\00:23:16.36
Jesus was a child
who was born to die.
00:23:16.39\00:23:20.70
He was born owing to
the sins of the world.
00:23:20.73\00:23:24.70
Someone had to save the
wandering human family--
00:23:24.73\00:23:28.07
and have we ever wandered!
00:23:28.10\00:23:29.84
While you enjoy--I'm hoping--
the happy side of Christmas,
00:23:29.87\00:23:32.51
police or other first responders
will see all too graphically
00:23:32.54\00:23:36.14
that we are still in the
midst of a troubled world
00:23:36.18\00:23:39.18
mired in sin.
00:23:39.21\00:23:41.22
There are still
wars being fought.
00:23:41.25\00:23:43.32
We salute our troops and
thank them for their commitment
00:23:43.35\00:23:47.16
to this Christmas time.
00:23:47.19\00:23:48.82
There's still hate, and
there's still injustice.
00:23:48.86\00:23:50.89
There is still
racism. There is still death.
00:23:50.93\00:23:55.56
I think perhaps what
we want for Christmas
00:23:55.60\00:23:57.23
is to be out of this world
and into the world to come.
00:23:57.27\00:24:01.97
I think that as we remember
the very first advent of Jesus,
00:24:02.00\00:24:04.84
what we really want, and what
we really need, is His return.
00:24:04.87\00:24:11.81
Revelation 21:4--
00:24:11.85\00:24:13.85
"And God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes;
00:24:13.88\00:24:17.72
and there shall
be no more death,
00:24:17.75\00:24:20.06
neither sorrow, nor crying,
00:24:20.09\00:24:23.16
neither shall
there be any more pain:
00:24:23.19\00:24:26.09
for the former
things are passed away."
00:24:26.13\00:24:29.16
The shepherds who
watched their flocks by night
00:24:30.33\00:24:32.33
heard angels sing.
00:24:32.37\00:24:34.07
Luke 2:20 says,
00:24:34.10\00:24:35.80
"And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
00:24:35.84\00:24:38.91
for all the things that
they had heard and seen."
00:24:38.94\00:24:42.24
But they hadn't seen the
best that there was to see.
00:24:42.28\00:24:46.15
Matthew 2:11 says,
00:24:46.18\00:24:48.52
"And when they had
come into the house,
00:24:48.55\00:24:51.12
they saw the young
Child with Mary His mother,
00:24:51.15\00:24:54.36
and fell down and worshiped Him.
00:24:54.39\00:24:56.66
And when they had
opened their treasures,
00:24:56.69\00:24:58.13
they presented unto Him gifts:
00:24:58.16\00:25:00.93
gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh."
00:25:00.96\00:25:04.80
Imagine!
00:25:04.83\00:25:06.43
But they hadn't seen
the best there was to see.
00:25:06.47\00:25:10.24
In the temple, Simeon
took Jesus up into his arms,
00:25:10.27\00:25:13.27
and he blessed God.
00:25:13.31\00:25:15.21
But even Simeon hadn't seen
the best that there was to see.
00:25:15.24\00:25:19.05
First Thessalonians 4:16-17 say,
00:25:19.08\00:25:23.25
"For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven
00:25:23.28\00:25:26.45
with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel,
00:25:26.49\00:25:29.89
and with the trump of God:
00:25:29.92\00:25:31.79
and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
00:25:31.83\00:25:34.93
then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up
00:25:34.93\00:25:37.33
together with
them in the clouds,
00:25:37.37\00:25:38.67
to meet the Lord in the air:
00:25:38.70\00:25:40.70
and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
00:25:40.74\00:25:44.81
That's the best there is to see:
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.48
the return of
Jesus, the end of sin,
00:25:47.51\00:25:50.71
an eternity of peace.
00:25:50.75\00:25:52.48
And we get to see it.
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.55
By asking Jesus into your heart,
00:25:54.58\00:25:56.32
you have the
assurance of eternal life.
00:25:56.35\00:25:58.95
Surrendering to God,
Jesus becomes your Lord,
00:25:58.99\00:26:04.03
your Savior, and
your eternal hope.
00:26:04.06\00:26:08.46
What do you want for Christmas?
00:26:08.50\00:26:11.27
I know what I want.
00:26:11.30\00:26:13.07
As John, who
wrote Revelation, said,
00:26:13.10\00:26:15.84
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
00:26:15.87\00:26:18.84
>>Announcer: The
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:20.51\00:26:23.18
But how do we take hold of it?
00:26:23.21\00:26:25.15
To learn more, request
your free copy of the booklet
00:26:25.18\00:26:28.22
"The Gift of the Spirit."
00:26:28.25\00:26:30.42
Simply call 800-253-3000.
00:26:30.45\00:26:34.52
That's 800-253-3000.
00:26:34.56\00:26:38.53
You may also
write to It Is Written,
00:26:38.56\00:26:40.26
PO Box 6 Chattanooga, TN 37401,
00:26:40.30\00:26:45.93
or visit our
website at iiwoffer.com.
00:26:45.97\00:26:49.94
>>John Bradshaw:
Let's pray together now.
00:26:51.34\00:26:53.17
Our Father in heaven, the true
essence of the Christmas story
00:26:53.21\00:26:56.98
reveals to us that there is a
God with a great heart of love,
00:26:57.01\00:27:02.02
who wants more than
anything that we, His children,
00:27:02.05\00:27:04.35
be saved and be
with Him forever.
00:27:04.39\00:27:06.76
Friends, as I pray,
00:27:06.79\00:27:07.79
I'm wondering if God
is speaking to your heart.
00:27:07.82\00:27:09.92
If He is, and I think He is,
00:27:09.96\00:27:12.29
would you surrender
your heart to Him now?
00:27:12.33\00:27:14.93
"Lord, I'm tired of
going my way," you might say.
00:27:14.93\00:27:17.80
"I'm tired of doing my thing.
00:27:17.83\00:27:19.80
I do want a new
heart and a new life."
00:27:19.83\00:27:23.10
And so we pray,
Father, take our hearts;
00:27:23.14\00:27:25.81
make them Yours.
00:27:25.84\00:27:27.18
And as You do, we
believe that in Jesus,
00:27:27.21\00:27:30.18
whom You gave 2,000 years ago,
00:27:30.21\00:27:32.71
we have the
gift of eternal life.
00:27:32.75\00:27:35.62
We thank You, and
we pray in Jesus' name.
00:27:35.65\00:27:40.06
Amen.
00:27:40.09\00:27:41.66
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:41.69\00:27:43.66
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:43.69\00:27:45.99
Until then, remember:
00:27:46.03\00:27:47.86
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:47.86\00:27:52.73
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:52.77\00:27:57.27
¤[Theme music]¤
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¤[Theme music]¤
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