Tag Archives: Christmas

South Carolina Sheriff Fulfills Pennsylvania Boy’s Dream

The Christmas holiday became a little more special for a Pennsylvania boy who thought his dream of learning to be a hunter had ended with a mix-up.

Alex Collins lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his mother Leslie.  Leslie is a single mother who has been ill and is not able to take her son to the hunter’s education classes let alone take him in the woods to hunt.

Alex and his mother heard about a program launched by the Sheriff of Chester County, South Carolina where the Sheriff would take young men and teach them how to become hunters.  The report only said Chester County, so Alex mistakenly thought it was Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Alex and his mother dropped off letters at the Chester County, Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Department asking for Alex to be a part of the program.

Alex was crushed when he found out about the mix-up.

That’s when Chester County, PA Sheriff Carolyn Welch contacted Alex Underwood, Sheriff of Chester County, South Carolina.

The Monday after Christmas, Alex was flown to Chester, South Carolina by Underwood who took the boy to learn how to be a hunter.  He bought him all the gear he needs to go into the woods and bag a deer.

The two Sheriffs and deputies of both departments chipped in to send the boy on the trip.

“People read the story and it just took off,” Underwood told the Herald. “Everybody wanted to make sure Little A (Alex) was taken care of, and I want the whole country to know that we are going to show Little A the best hunting and fishing trip anybody ever had.”

Fox News reports that Sheriff Underwood said Alex is going to be taken to a “secret hunting spot” that is held so closely by sheriff’s department employees that Alex has to promise not to tell anyone how to find it.

President Visits Troops on Christmas Day

President Obama and the first lady visited troops at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Christmas, thanking them for their service to the nation.

The President acknowledged the birth of Christ in his message to the troops.

“So on a day when we celebrate the Prince of Peace and many of us count our blessings, one of the greatest blessings we have is the extraordinary dedication and sacrifices you all make,” Obama said according to ABC News.  “We could not be more thankful. I know I speak for everyone in the entire country when I say, we salute you.”

The President spent the majority of the time talking about the end of the U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of the year.

“Next week we will be ending our combat mission in Afghanistan. Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the Armed Forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country. We are safer. It’s not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again. And we still have some very difficult missions around the world, including in Iraq,” Obama continued.

“We still have folks in Afghanistan helping the Afghan security forces. We have people helping to deal with Ebola in Africa and obviously we have folks stationed all around the world. But the world is better, it’s safer, it’s more peaceful, it’s more prosperous and our homeland is protected because of you and the sacrifices each and every day.”

Over 2,000 U.S. troops died during the Afghan war.

Vice President Biden and his wife visited troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

Christmas Community Outreach 2014

Some things are taught in a school and some things are taught within an experience. On December 13th, 2014, on a street called Grace, it wasn’t a head full of knowledge that mattered the most; it was a heart full of love that made the difference for over 400 people who live in the small and somewhat forgotten towns that surround Morningside village.

Pastors Jim and Lori Bakker rallied their entire staff and many volunteers to remember and SHOW that Christmas is one of the greatest opportunities to share the love of JESUS and His message of HOPE .

The building was packed with families who desperately needed help; many who were jobless and single moms who were struggling with two jobs to support their families.  The stories were truly heartbreaking!  Everyone here at the Jim Bakker Show and Morningside Church became unified to fulfill the mission of the gospel and spread with all of our hearts; hope, joy, love, and peace.

From the very start, inspiring music from Kevin Shorey, Caleb Gordon, Harmony Hayes, Kimberly Patrick and Kristi Blankenship literally charged the atmosphere with hope and fellowship. A huge breakfast buffet was served where everyone in the building was able to eat until they were full.

On behalf of Morningside and the generosity of our partners, Pastor Jim and his entire family gave away gifts in abundance featuring a flat screen color TV, a Wii gaming system, an inflatable kayak, camping tents, jewelry, bikes and toys of all kinds.  The faces of those children and families are forever in our hearts.  Their smiles completely lit up Morningside!

Excitement mounted as special guests were brought to the stage.  First came Frosty the snowman, and when Santa came out children and adults broke into a rousing applause, but the guest that amazed the crowd was the star of the movie “Frozen”; Elsa. The kids rushed the stage and everyone sang and danced to the hit song from the movie “LET IT GO “. People were lost in a moment of joyful Christmas spirit!

Among the gifts here at Morningside was a photo booth and over 100 families got in line to get a family portrait to take home, compliments of the ministry. The children also got pictures with Frosty and Santa and of course Elsa. These are memories that will stay with these beautiful children and we  wanted them to have that captured moment to remember.

It is in a spirit of love that people best hear the gospel message.  Pastor Keven Shorey preached a beautiful and hopeful message of Jesus’s power to save.  Heaven rejoiced as hundreds prayed a salvation prayer with tears rolling down their faces.  And all of us felt the Spirit of the Lord embrace us all.

Towards the end of this remarkable afternoon, Pastor Jim Bakker opened up a room filled with every kind of gift you can imagine!  There were tables full of them and every person was invited to shop. Right here at Morningside we had our own Black Friday, except it was Saturday and everything was free!  Finally, as these wonderful families were leaving for their homes, every person was sent home with a grocery bag full of food all made possible by remarkable people giving to this ministry!

I wish you could have seen their faces and heard their stories!  I also wish that you too could have experienced the atmosphere!  It was like riding a hurricane of crazy cool, loving Jesus, giving and loving emotion!

God so Loved He gave His only Son- Every time we give…every time we share and love another person… its Christmas!

Lloyd Ziegler

 

Storms Threaten Christmas Travel

A series of storms across the nation are threatening to make Christmas travel a mess.  Thunderstorms across the south, rain in in the east and snowstorms around the Great Lakes could bring serious flight delays and dangerous road conditions.

Up to three inches of snow is predicted for the areas around Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International airports.  Delays and cancellations at two of the nation’s biggest Midwest airports would have repercussions throughout the country.

“I’d be nervous about the possibility of not being able to get out,” Chicago area meteorologist Charles Mott told the Associated Press. “I would definitely make plans about possibly staying put or doing something else.”

Over 4.2 million travelers are expected to go through the Chicago airports during the Christmas season.

Storms across the Rockies caused blowing snow that blocked major highways and even Hawaii is feeling the winter punch as a blizzard warning was issued for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island.  While snow is common, a blizzard is considered unusual by meteorologists.

What I’m Doing to Keep Christ in Christmas (Pt. 2)

There may be efforts to take Christ out of Christmas in this world, but we have within each one of us, individually, everything we need to keep Christ in Christmas.  He is in our every moment after all! When we see others, we can choose to beam the love of Jesus into them as we say those words… “Merry Christmas! “ We can shine with His Spirit! It is up to our hearts to show that Christ is still in Christmas!

Nobody can take that from us.  And nobody ever will. Continue reading →

Satanists Put Up Display At Michigan Capitol

A group of Satanists have placed a display on the Michigan State Capitol grounds to mock the placement of nativity scenes in publicly available areas.

The Satanic Temple set up what they call the “Snaketivity Scene” that shows a snake wrapped around a book called “Revolt of the Angels.”  The whole thing is wrapped around the Satanic cross.

Satanic Temple spokeswoman Jex Blackmore said her group really doesn’t worship Satan despite the fact they’re called the Satanic Temple.

“Having our government endorse one singular viewpoint or method of celebrating the season is problematic when we have a diverse community of people in Michigan,” she said.

Senator Rick Jones, who was sponsoring the nativity scene on the Capitol grounds, said he representa “the light and not the darkness.”

“They could have put theirs up in July or April or sometime. They didn’t need to put it up in the Christmas season,” Jones said. “That’s OK. We’re going to ignore them. I’m not afraid of the snake people. I’m sure that Jesus Christ is not afraid.”

Building Family Traditions

When God gave me and Jim our five beautiful children, I wanted to create traditions in our family that they could remember over the years and pass down to their own children (as Little Lori is now doing).

One of those traditions that I dearly love is reading the “Legend of the Candy Cane” at Christmastime.  I believe it’s so important to honor the birthday of Jesus at Christmas in everything we do, so this was a perfect blend” of the “sweet” things that go along with Christmas!

Our children also love reading the “Christmas Story” (another family tradition) along with the “Legend of the Candy Cane.” In fact, some of them even learned to read with these family traditions! Continue reading →

Home for the Holidays in Blue Eye

Most of us can relate to that warm fuzzy feeling we have about being at home for the holidays. Home is where we are surrounded by those that we love and those who love us.  It’s where you’re accepted unconditionally, and celebrated just for being you. It’s a place where the sheer joy of existing is tangible and hangs in the air like the pine scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree. Home is a delightful place, and the atmosphere of home feels like it just reaches around you and gives you a big hug.

Wherever the holiday gathering takes place, there is wonderful smells of delicious foods you only indulge in once a year, prepared lovingly for the expressed delight of those who will savor every morsel. Twinkling lights and red ribbons, pine wreaths and mistletoe, Christmas trees and bright centerpieces adorned with candles – all of these and more add to the magic of being home for the holidays. Continue reading →

What I’m Doing to Keep Christ in Christmas

I’ve been thinking a lot lately on how the world is trying to take Jesus Christ out of everything to do with Christmas, which is totally ridiculous because it’s HIS birthday that we are celebrating, after all! But they are trying to make Christmas about something else, and change its meaning altogether. I’m determined to do all I can to make sure that doesn’t happen! If you take Christ out of Christmas, you may as well just forget it – we don’t need another reason to throw a party. We need Jesus Christ in our lives!

I’m very interested in what YOU are doing to keep Christ in Christmas too! Let’s share our ideas on how we will make sure that the message of Christ is the main thing at CHRISTmas time. Continue reading →

Anti-Christianists Threaten Town’s Christmas Parade

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is at it again.

The group has threatened the town of Piedmont, Alabama over their Christmas parade.

The town had decided they wanted the parade’s theme to revolve around the true “reason for the season” and selected “Keep Christ In Christmas” as the parade’s theme.  Immediately, the Christian-hating group fired off a letter to the mayor of the town claiming some unnamed resident complained about the theme.

The FFRF routinely claims unidentified people complain about things so they can advance their campaign to remove Christians from society.

The city had renamed their theme after the threat from the Christian-haters but residents participating in the parade took it upon themselves to proclaim Christ multiple times throughout the parade.

“If we stick together like this, all the good Christian people will stick together and lift up the name of Jesus Christ, and not let these athiests and the non-believers scare us like they do, it will be a better world,” attendee Harold Martin said.

“This anti-religious group that started all this stuff, I really believe this has backfired on them,” Mayor Baker said.  “What has happened now is the city of Piedmont, great city to live in, great people, has rallied.  They have caused our parade to be bigger and better with more emphasis placed on Christianity.”

The city reported the largest attendance ever for a Christmas parade.