Podcasts about O Holy Night

Leaders Who Create Holiday Moments: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with worship leader and producer Andy Chrisman for a deep dive into crafting holiday events that people genuinely look forward to year after year. Andy shares the story behind the annual Christmas event he's part of in Tulsa with Church on the Move; how it started, why it matters, and what it's become for the community. Together they explore the art of balancing fresh creative ideas with traditions, and what it really looks like to lead and collaborate with a team to bring a large-scale Christmas events to life. Andy also reflects on why community traditions are so powerful and how they help shape the rhythms of a city. Whether you're a ministry leader, creative, or someone dreaming about building meaningful moments in your community, Andy offers practical encouragement and wisdom for creating holiday experiences that last. Learn more about Andy at https://www.andychrisman.com/.

Listen to our Carols Over Chaos Christmas Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cd53UKI3NvE8aaF0qp9M9?si=EtTdf6FXQoWA_6Tzur993g    

Get ready for a festive round of What Was That Sound?—our special holiday edition! In today's episode, we explore four magical instruments that help create the twinkling, sparkling, joyful sound of Christmas music. Kids will listen to short audio clues and try to guess each instrument before the answer is revealed. It's a fun, interactive way to train their ears and learn musical facts! To make the experience even more hands-on, don't forget to download the free What Was That Sound? printable worksheet linked here. Kids can write down their guesses, take notes and share what they've learned using this fun printable.

Su poesía es audaz, libre y valiente... por eso Juan de Salas es Premio El Ojo Crítico de Poesía 2025 por su poemario "El siglo", publicado por Ultramarinos. Hablamos con él sobre sus poemas, con los que explora la historia de la España decimonónica, atravesados por la ironía, el humor y la lucidez. Además, volvemos a la ciencia con Xaviera Torres que, a propósito de la estrella que guía a Belén, nos habla de astronomía. Y terminamos con un repaso musico-lírico con nuestro musicólogo Enrique Mejías, que nos descubre que hay detrás del tan famoso "O Holy Night" de Adolf Adam.Escuchar audio

Why does O Holy Night move us so deeply? In this Advent episode, Nicole Unice walks through the biblical and theological foundations of one of the most powerful Christmas hymns ever written. Originally penned as a poem and later set to music by a Jewish composer, O Holy Night captures the longing of a broken world and the radical hope of Christ’s arrival. Nicole traces the hymn’s themes—human helplessness, soul-deep worth, freedom for the captive, and the proper response of worship—back to Scripture, helping listeners slow down, reflect, and experience the Gospel anew during the Christmas season. Listeners will: Discover why Christmas hymns carry such emotional and spiritual power Learn how O Holy Night reflects the entire Gospel story Understand why Jesus enters human weakness instead of waiting for human effort Explore the meaning of “the soul felt its worth” in light of Scripture See how freedom in Christ is both personal and social Be invited to reflect on how the incarnation changes the way we live today Listener Reflection Questions Do I live like this is true—that my soul has worth? Do I live like this is true of others as well? What is one small step I could take this season to live as if this truth really matters? Nicole also invites listeners to personally sit with and reflect on this phrase from O Holy Night: “The soul felt its worth.” What would it look like to make this personal—“my soul felt its worth”?

O Holy Night | Pastor Jeremy Isaacs | Week Two by Generations Church

I'm kind of a Christmas carol geek, if there is such a thing. I've always enjoyed playing them and even as a young person, I was fascinated by where they came from: their origins, translations, composers, text sources, etc. For me, the stories behind the carols were a kind of history and geography lesson rolled up into the magic and meaning of Christmas. I think the origin stories are what really held my interest. The writing of "Silent Night" because a church organ in Austria was damaged, or the composition of "O Holy Night" as a dedication piece to a renovated organ in France are stories that aren't just interesting, though. They shape how I think about those songs and how I play them, certainly how I arrange them as well. Today, I want to share the back stories to three carols. I know you're familiar with these carols, but you may not be familiar with their origin stories. If you're like me, you love hearing insider scoops and these are back stories you probably won't hear anywhere else. What's more, these three carols all share similar ethnic roots; they are all, to some degree at least, Czech.  I think all of these stories are interesting, and I think I can guarantee that at least one of these connections will surprise you. What I hope is that you learn something that will give you a new connection to the music itself, so that when you play these carols or even when you hear them, they resonate in a little more personal way because you know just a little bit more about them. It's kind of like discovering something new about a friend you've known for years, something that adds a new layer of interest and delight.  So sit back with your cup of coffee and I'll tell you a story. Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode:  Blog from the archives: 7 Surprising Facts about "O Holy Night" Blog from the archives: Not So Silent Night: Going Viral 200 Years Ago Harpmastery.com Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at podcast@harpmastery.com Looking for a transcript for this episode? Did you know that if you subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts you will have access to their transcripts of each episode? LINKS NOT WORKING FOR YOU? FInd all the show resources here: https://www.harpmastery.com/blog/Episode-239  

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

Continuing in our carols series, Steve looks at the once-controversial carol, O Holy Night. As a medidation of Jesus birth, this carol can lead us into a posture that allows us to properly relate to God and his creation. Listen in for all the details.

Psalms 77

Welcome to Troy Church's podcast series. Our Connection Card link:https://troychurch.breezechms.com/form/7e350cJesus Comes Humbly to Give Joy to the HumbleHumilityLuke 1:43, 48, 52Psalm 138:6Isaiah 57:15RecognitionLuke 1:41, 45, 48-49JoyLuke 1:44, 47Psalm 28:7Romans 15:3Mary's Prayer - Luke 1:47-56Worship Songs"O Holy Night""Who Else" - Abbie Gamboa and Gateway Worship"Closer" - Lifepoint WorshipYou can keep up with all things Troy Church right here on our channel, and also at our other social media and outreach opportunities:facebook.com/troychurch.tvinstagram/troychurchalwww.troychurch.tv

Leon and Lindsey celebrate Advent through the words of O Holy Night, highlighting key moments with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. This week's episode with guest ONU Chaplain Ryan Green reflects on a line from the hymn, connecting it to their stories and the wonder of Jesus' birth.

In this Advent message, Pastor Suzie Genin of Dwelling House Church teaches that true joy is not found in circumstances, emotions, or outcomes—but in the person of Jesus Himself. As part of the Advent journey, this sermon invites us to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the gospel through the lens of joy. Drawing from Hebrews 12, Luke 2, and the story behind the hymn O Holy Night, Pastor Suzie explains how Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” and how that same joy is available to believers today—even in suffering, uncertainty, and hardship. Joy, she teaches, is not the absence of pain but the presence of Jesus, rooted in surrender, obedience, and trust. This message challenges the mindset of striving for happiness and instead calls us to a Kingdom perspective—where Jesus alone is enough. If you're searching for a Spirit-filled church, biblical teaching, or encouragement during the Christmas season, we invite you to encounter Jesus with us at Dwelling House Church. This Sermon Answers: 1. What does it mean that Jesus is our joy, even in suffering? 2. How can believers choose joy when life feels overwhelming or uncertain? 3. Why is surrender essential to experiencing true, lasting joy in Christ? ===================== Visit Dwelling House online: https://dwellinghousechurch.com Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dwellinghousechurch Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/dwellinghousechurch

Last week, our Pastor Emeritus Cam Huxford shared with us the importance of discovering true joy, unpacking Joy to the World. This week, continuing in our Christmas series, Pastor Marcus examines how being on autopilot can numb us to the wonder of Christmas. Through the story of O Holy Night's unlikely composer—a skeptical French poet named Placide Cappeau—and the humble shepherds who first heard heaven's announcement, we discover how to move beyond familiar rituals to profound encounter. This message awakens us to three transformative responses: listening well, releasing fear, and making peace. Whether you're feeling weary or wondering if you matter, this fresh look at Luke 2 reveals how Jesus's arrival proves your soul's infinite worth. Don't miss this chance to experience Christmas anew!

Welcome to the Beaches Chapel Church podcast! Beaches Chapel is a home for all to begin and grow in their relationship with Jesus. For more information visit beacheschapel.com or download our app.

Join us this Sunday as Pastor Jon preaches on Titus 3:3-7. You are invited to watch our 9:30 service on Facebook Live.Coram Deo Church meets in Bremerton, WA. We exist to love God, connect people, and change the world. When we gather together on Sundays, we hear the preaching of God's Word, and respond by worshipping & taking Communion together.

In unserem Jahresabschluss besprechen wir alles, was uns 2025 rund um die Masters beschäftigte - Highlights wie auch Lowlights. Sei dabei oder sei ein faules Ei! Teilnehmer: Seb, Michael und The Formless One Laufzeit: 02:21:32 Redaktion: Seb Endproduktion: Seb und Roboto X78 Das Intro wurde gesprochen von Jörg Schuler (Sprecher für Funk und TV). Vielen herzlichen Dank für die freundliche Unterstützung. Wir verwenden Musik von Pond5. Inhalt: Intro: 00:00:00 Intro-Hörspiel: "Old School!" 00:03:38 Intro 00:04:29 Smalltalk: Der Ausblick auf die Folge 00:08:30 Smalltalk: YouTube Super Chat, Sticker & Thanks + PE-Adventskalender 00:11:15 The Toys of MotU News: 00:16:41 Film-Trailer sollte angeblich kommen, kam jetzt doch (noch) nicht? 00:21:54 Dragstor bei MC Deutschland ausverkauft, aber noch in den USA 00:28:39 Mondo 200X Skeletor seit 09.12. bis 06.01. erhältlich 00:30:48 Man-At-Arms "early next year" Figur bereits weiterbearbeitet 00:37:29 Vierte Club Grayskull-Figur am 09.01. erhältlich Hauptthema: 00:39:17 Unsere Tops und Flops des Jahres 2025 Outro: 02:11:18 Verabschiedung 02:12:31 Abschluss-Gag 02:13:36 O Holy Night – gespielt by Ramon und Christopher, gesungen by Gordon 02:17:35 Outro

Sermon Summary Title: Fall on Your Knees Speaker: Nick Lugg Context: A Christmas message exploring the true cost and response required by the coming of Jesus. Overview: In this message, Nick Lugg challenges the congregation to move past the sentimental traditions of Christmas and confront the reality of who Jesus is. Referencing the line "Fall on your knees" from O Holy Night, the sermon asks a central question: "What is Jesus worth to you?" Key Themes: Response is Mandatory: Just like the Shepherds, Wise Men, and King Herod, no one can remain neutral to Jesus. His presence demands a response—either worship or resistance. Worship as Surrender: True worship isn't just singing songs; it is a life posture of "falling on your knees." Nick uses the imagery of the 24 Elders in Revelation casting down their crowns to illustrate surrendering our status, identity, and security to God. Jesus is Central, Not an Add-on: The sermon warns against treating Jesus like an "interior decorator" who just enhances our existing lives. Instead, He often comes as a "wrecking ball," dismantling our wrong priorities to rebuild us on a better foundation. The Call to Re-evaluate: Listeners are urged to identify what "crowns" they are holding onto—career, reputation, comfort, or sin—and to determine if those things are worth more to them than Jesus. Audio Transcript [00:00] Nick Lugg: Good morning. Congregation: Good morning. Nick Lugg: Happy Christmas. Not quite there. We, um... Oh look, it's there. Because it's Christmas we are going to do PowerPoint. Now, this is not my primary skill set, so it's a bit like rubbing your stomach, patting your head, and standing on a beach ball all at the same time. So I'm hoping to remember to press the button at the right time. [00:26] Our prayer and our desire all the time—and always has been every Christmas—is to enjoy the Christmas season, to enjoy the atmosphere, to enjoy all that Christmas is to us. But at the same time, by God's grace, crack it open and get to the reality of what God is wanting to say to us each and every time. We can't be reduced to people that just do traditions. That just do, um, repeat—you know, we just get on rinse and repeat every year. Same thing: bring out the same songs, do the same things, go through the same motions. Because God has always got something fresh to say to us. [01:05] And that's why we've had this mini-series over Christmas where we've, uh... the eagle-eyed amongst you will know that it's been related to the carol O Holy Night. The first one—I think they were slightly in the wrong order, but it doesn't matter because we've got grace—but the first one Johnny spoke was "A weary world rejoices." And then I think Andy, uh, last week was speaking on "The thrill of hope." [01:32] And it's just those... just those lines have so much relevance and so much resonance for us in the world that we live in and the lives that we are leading. A weary world rejoices. But yet, and behind everything that we seek to do as a church, and everything we seek to begin, is to bring that thrill of hope. But as the curtains open, and as heaven is drawn back, and as we begin to see all that is going on behind Christmas, there is also the response, which is: Fall on your knees. [02:07] And the question this morning: What is Jesus worth to you? What is Jesus worth to me? That if we don't come out of Christmas with a greater sense... You know, we've sung these majestic carols—Adore, come let us adore, let's worship Him, and all the other lines that I've forgotten. You know, they—but they are majestic, honestly. But... you know, we adore Him. But if we don't actually adore Him, if we don't actually wrestle with the question: What does, therefore, it mean that He's worth to me? How does His coming—Christmas, the coming of Christ—how does His coming impact my life? How does it change the shape and the way that I think and the way that I act and the way that I live this life that He's given me? [02:54] What is Jesus worth to me? Oh look... [clicks clicker]. So the real story of Christmas, we say it every year, it's not sentimental, is it? But it's one of humility. Anonymity. Struggle. And the telling and the retelling of the story of Mary and Joseph and all that they went through doesn't really ever quite connect and communicate what it must have been like for them to experience what they experienced. [03:22] There was pain. Discomfort. Fear. Anxiety, no doubt. Stress. Uncertainty. Tears. Maybe there were short tempers. There were... there were all sorts of things going on that we would instantly relate to, and yet we don't see on the Christmas cards. But it's into that world, not the Christmas card world, that Jesus came. Jesus came to our world. We might think, "Well, it was all right, you know, Christmas was just so lovely and everything was just so beautiful and there was like shining tinsel and angels and shepherds and it's all so peaceful and everything else on the Christmas cards." But what about us? What about Sheffield? What about Jordanthorpe, Batemoor? What about where I live? What about my background? What about my world? Jesus came into that world. [04:15] And everyone who encountered Jesus had to respond. And the question for us today is the same. As we ask "What is Jesus worth to me?", how do I respond to Him? How do I respond to the fact that He has come? Not just come to the world, not just come to all people—He's come into my life. How do I respond, therefore, to this majestic appearance? [04:42] He's the Son of God. [Struggles with clicker] Is that the one? This is where it all goes wrong, you see. Anyway, it don't matter... [Adjusts slides]. He comes on the margins of society. He's ignored by society. He's unnoticed by society. He's born away from comfort and privilege. The Bible tells us in Philippians that He, though being in very nature God, He didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped, but He came down, took on the very nature of a servant. He took the opposite of what we would think somebody of His power and authority had. [05:22] I was... saw an article or a video report about Air Force One—the President of the United States' plane. You know how when it flies around, all the preparations and all the protection that it has, you know, fighter jet escorts and all of that. None of that for Jesus. But even as a baby, before He ever taught anything, before He said anything—He just cried like babies do—before He healed anyone, before He performed a miracle, He provoked profound responses. [05:54] You know, the first miracle we read about was when He turned water into wine at a wedding. He was an adult. But before all of that, the story of Christmas is about the responses that people made to who He was. Not what He did. Who He is is what makes a difference in our lives and causes us to respond. [06:14] And so we have the Shepherds. Ordinary people. Caught in their routines. But shaken awake by God to say: "Good news of great joy for all the earth, a Savior is born." Pointing the way to Him. And so they got up from their routine, they got up from their humdrum existence, and they left everything to go and see Him, to go and worship Him. [06:37] The Wise Men. Men of influence and education. They were willing to travel hundreds of miles and bring costly gifts because He was worth it. That's not an easy thing to do. It's not easy to travel. You might think it's easy... you know, even traveling these days, going to Zambia or going to Nepal, it's a... it's a consideration. Even just sitting still doing nothing on a plane. Let alone getting on a camel and going hundreds and hundreds of miles. But they considered that they needed to respond to what they had heard and what they had seen. [07:11] There was King Herod. He was a king with wealth and power and influence and all the things that the world could give him. And yet he saw Jesus as a threat and said He's worth eliminating. He wanted... he responded to Jesus. There's no neutrality. One baby, three responses, but everyone responds. There is no neutrality when it comes to Jesus. When He comes into our world, there is no neutrality for us today. When He comes into... we have to respond. We have to ask: What does His coming demand of me? What is He worth to me? What do I do... what do I do about His coming? [07:51] Jesus demands a response. His very presence draws a response from our hearts. Or it should do. Because there is no neutral. No matter how much we want to live in neutral gear. No matter how much we want to be observers and spectators of all of this and just say, "Oh well, you know, we'll see how it goes." Jesus demands a response. And His very presence forces a collision with our priorities. He comes into our hearts. [08:19] I remember that experience. I've given my testimony before, but I remember how I was like a spectator. I was somebody who was beginning to think, when I was 17 years old, and thinking, "Oh yeah, I think I believe in Jesus. I think He's real. I think..." and I went through all of that process for a year. But at that moment that I asked Him to come into my life—BANG—there was that explosion. Things happened. Everything changed shape in my life, in my priorities, in my understanding, in the values. All of that had to be reassessed. [08:50] When Jesus comes into our world, everything has to be reassessed. When He steps into someone's world... when He steps into your world... you cannot carry on as before. I cannot carry on just as before. Everything that we hold dear. Everything that we love. Everything that shapes our identity, that makes us say, "Well this is who I am." Jesus confronts it. He collides with it. Causes it to change shape permanently and forever. [09:20] Not just an emotional moment where we just say, "Oh I think I believe in Jesus now." But actually He physically comes... and He comes into our hearts, He changes the shape of everything from the inside out. Everything that commands our time, our energy, our attention has to be reassessed in the light of Jesus coming. All of it challenged by that one question: Is it worth more to me than Jesus? [09:44] I remember when I was on a mission trip one time in Russia—in the old Soviet Union actually, I can say it now, we had to keep it secret in those days. But, um, we went and there was somebody that was really taken with the Gospel message and they were listening to it all. And they were saying to the person who was sharing with them, they said, "But if I become a Christian though, do I have to... do I have to stop smoking?" And the person was like getting into a bit of a twist, you know, "Oh well, you know, God understands us and God doesn't judge..." and trying to explain it all. [10:14] And then there was this evangelist guy that was with us who was much more to the point. He just came in and said, "Yes. You do." He said, "And if you ask me if I believe in Jesus, do I have to stop wearing blue jeans? I tell you: Yes, you do." He said, "Because it's not about the smoking, it's not about the blue jeans, it's not about the whatever. But the very fact that you're asking that question means that there is a confrontation with what you want. With what you hold dear. Is it worth more to you than Jesus? Give it up! Change it! Change shape!" That's what happened at Christmas. Jesus came into our lives. And so those little questions that come in the light of Jesus... they should become irrelevant. "Can I still do this? Can I still do that?" Why are you asking those questions? Jesus is worth more than all of it. [10:59] And so we have to reassess our priorities. That's what happened at Christmas. So the Shepherds left their livelihood. They left... presumably they left the sheep... couldn't have taken all the sheep to see Jesus, could they? The Wise Men gave their treasure. Herod protected his throne. And we do the same. When Jesus comes, we have to respond. Either we worship, or we resist. There is no neutrality. [11:27] Worship is more than a song. "For a song in itself is not what you have required." And the rest of it. It's not just what happens on a Sunday, is it? We enjoy it. We enjoy the worship. We enjoy our singing. But we call it "worship," we label it "worship," and yet there is so much more to worship. Worship is not an event. Worship is not 30 minutes. Worship is a life posture. It's a life position. It's a life decision that says: "Come what may, Jesus, you are worth it. You are worth my life. You are worth everything I have, everything I can give you." [12:02] I remember a friend of mine who was on mission in India, and he took a team to India. And these sort of young, enthusiastic people that were there, and they encountered a church that was quite different to the type of lively, charismatic church they were involved in. And yet this church was full of people that had been imprisoned for their faith, had been beaten up for their faith, had been through all sorts of struggle. And this bright-eyed young evangelist person said to the guy who was leading the team, he said, "They don't seem to know much about worship, do they?" [12:35] And he said, "Well, it depends what you mean by worship. If you mean music and singing and songs, then maybe they don't know... you know, all of that. But there's an awful lot that they do know about giving their entire life for Jesus and saying: You are worth everything that I can give you." Worship says you are more than anything else in my life. The old carol says: "What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart." [13:12] So there isn't anything we can give that impresses Jesus. There isn't anything that He says, "Oh, I think I quite like..."—whether it's our blue jeans or our cigarettes or whatever. It's not about what we give up in that sense. But what we give Him. We give Him our trust. We give Him our obedience. We give Him our love. We give Him our hearts. And that is a whole life thing. That's something that brings a change from the start, and it goes through year after year after year. It's where Christianity is not a flash in the pan. It's not something that we do for a season and then we move on to something else. It's that if truly Jesus has come into our hearts, things have changed. Our priorities have changed. Our vision has changed. Our values have changed. Everything changes and it can't change back. [13:58] But our hearts are shaped, aren't they, by our culture. By comfort. By self-protection. And so we're tempted to use Jesus as an add-on. As a "life enhancer." Someone who fits in with our lives. Instead of someone who rearranges our lives. We treat Him a bit like an interior decorator. Comes in and, you know, tells us what color curtains to have and how to enhance the arrangement of our furniture to give us the best energy and all of that sort of thing. And yet, when He turns up with His hard hat on and a crane with a wrecking ball to come and knock the whole thing down, we don't like that. [14:38] His arrival demands more. And so the only response that we can give Him is to fall on our knees. One day in eternity, scripture says, the 24 Elders fall down and worship. They lay their crowns before the throne. They lay their crowns. In many translations, they take their crowns and they cast them. They throw them. They throw them down at the feet of Jesus. Why do they do that? Why the crowns? Because the crown is a symbol. The crown is a symbol of their identity. Their status. Their achievements. Their authority. Whatever gives their life value in the eyes of others. [15:20] We love it, don't we? Medals and gongs and crowns and uniforms and achievements and things that we can say about who we are and what we've done and what we've achieved. All of that constitutes our crown. And yet when they were in the presence of Jesus, they fell down and worshipped and they lay their crowns before the throne. Say: "Everything that I am, Lord God... have it. Whatever I think I am, You take it, Lord. Because it's... YOU are worth more than that." [15:52] Fall down on your knees. Nothing I have. Nothing I achieve. Nothing that defines me comes close to the value of Jesus. And that's what falling on our knees means. So we let Him question what we hold onto. We let Him reorder what we value. Rather than let's have a discussion about it—"Lord, I think, you know, do a trade, do a deal. Maybe I can keep some of this... you can have this, but I'll have that." It's a complete, radical reorganization, reordering of everything that is valuable to us. [16:26] There are things that define our lives wrongly. Things that we would say about ourselves if somebody asked us, "Well this is what I am. This is why I am like I am. This is what has made me to be like I am." And we settle into that because we think, "Well, this is me. This is just how I am made. This is how I am wired." What if Jesus comes in and dismantles the things that wrongly define us? What if He wants to reshape and rebuild and change our outlook and change our vision of ourselves and change our vision of others and change our vision of the world? He can do that. And He does that as He comes into our hearts. [17:03] Let Him replace our plans with His purposes. What is it that You want, Lord, in my life? What is it that You want in our life? What is it that You want for us as a church? Jesus. Because You are worth it. Whatever we think that we might be or we might achieve or we might... what status we might have... we lay it all before Jesus and say we fall on our knees before You, Lord. Have Your way among us. Fill us, God, with Your Spirit. Not only just to give us an experience that blesses us, but an experience that changes us from the inside out. That reshapes us. That demolishes us and rebuilds us. [17:42] Let Him confront our comforts. The things that give us security. The things that we hold onto. All of those things. Like I said, He's not an interior decorator. Someone making suggestions to make life better. But our worship says: "Do whatever You need to do, Lord, because I am Yours." [18:02] And so, as we fall on our knees, we re-evaluate what we treasure. Ask yourself a question: What in my life currently holds a higher value than Jesus? It's a tough question. And it's not coming from the pulpit saying "Ask yourself!"—pointing back at me—ask yourself. There's so much that takes place in our lives, so much that is established in our lives that is... takes the place of Jesus. So re-evaluate what we treasure. Our comfort. Our time. Our reputation. Our resources. A career. Relationship. Control. A painful identity I don't want to let go of. A sin that I cling to. [18:50] All of that can form a crown. That Jesus demands a response. That we know that we are holding onto those things, but when we come into His presence, we know there has to be a response. There is no neutrality. There's no "Oh, well I think I'll take it or leave it" or "I think I'll wait until next month and see how I feel then." No. When we meet Jesus, there has to be that change. There has to be that response. There has to be that worship. [19:14] And so, take one thing today that has become a crown you hold tightly and consciously place it before Jesus. What is it in your life this morning that you know... Ask God to reveal to you, to show you, what is it that you hold that you can actually... that you need to throw before Him? You need to surrender it. And tell Him: "Jesus, You are worth more than this. All my life I've held onto this thing. All my life this has defined me. All my life this has been the one thing that I don't want to let go of. But Jesus, You are worth more than all of that. And I lay it before You today." There's an opportunity today to lay these things before the feet of Jesus. [19:54] Secondly, reorient our priorities around Him. What are our priorities in life? Does our lifestyle reflect the value of Jesus? The one we adore? The one we sing about? What about the application of that worship? Do we adore Him so much so that our decisions honor Him? Our schedule and our priorities reflect His importance? Our giving, our serving, our obedience demonstrate that He is worth it? Not only to Him, but to anybody that looks at our lives, they say, "No, this person values Jesus more than anything." [20:30] Does our worship cost us anything? Or is it just convenient? Those who responded to Jesus right back at the beginning, in the beginning of the Christmas story—their worship cost them. It took something out of them. It tired them. It stressed them. It pained them. But it was worth it because they were coming to Jesus. [20:53] And so think about an area of life where Jesus has been an add-on. Where we've just invited Him and said, "I like the fact that You're in my life, Jesus, and perhaps You can help me. Give me a little bit of power here and there just to help me through a few things, over a few humps. But don't get too much involved. Don't get too nosey into what's going on. Because I think... I think You know Your place, Jesus." Is He an add-on? Or is He central? [21:18] That's the challenge as we go forward. Not about "Can we raise enough money for 146?" or "Can we, you know, what do we do about this or that?" What's the practical things to do with the growth of a church? It's about as we grow as a community, will we actually have Him in the center of everything that we are and everything that we do? Will He be our first and our last thought in every decision that we make? How does this honor Him? How does this reflect His worth? How does this reflect His value? Because then the church will grow with people that will also know that Jesus is the priority. Jesus is the center. Jesus is the focus. [21:55] And thirdly, reopen our heart to encounter Him. Some of these questions can be at the first stage of our faith... you know, "What's Jesus worth?" But in actual fact, you can have that radical encounter with Jesus, you can have that moment where you know that you've given your all to Him... but five years, ten years, fifteen years down the line, things can look different. You can get jaded. You can get settled into "routine Christianity." Familiar. Predictable. Safe. Christmas is familiar, predictable, safe. But Jesus is coming. Jesus comes into our lives and challenges our priorities. [22:38] And so He's calling us to meet Him again. And for those of us that have become dulled and routine and predictable and safe, there is still that call from Jesus to say: Will you actually reorient? Will you actually re-evaluate? Will you actually reopen your heart to encounter me again? Not emotionally or artificially, but deeply. Pray: "Lord, show me Your worth again. Disrupt me if You must. Call me out of my routine and lead me back to worship." [23:09] And so there's a challenge. Will you worship Him now—today, this morning—and will you worship Him forever? Because it's not sentiment, it's transformation. Christmas is sentimental. It pulls at our emotions. It pulls at our nostalgia. If you ever spend any time on Instagram, these videos come up of what it used to be like in the 80s... I know some of you are thinking "What's the 80s?" But they were good. Christmas was good. It was sentimental and it was emotional and you've got all sorts of childhood memories from there. Probably go a little bit back before the 80s as well, but we won't go there. [23:49] But Christmas is sentimental. But Jesus is transformational. The coming of Jesus transforms. He didn't come to give us sentiment. He didn't come to give us emotion. He's not Father Christmas. But He did come to change everything. And so when the Shepherds saw Him, they ran to Him. When the Wise Men saw His worth, they knelt before Him. When the Elders see His worth, they throw their crowns down in front of Him. And when we see Him, what do we do? Fall on our knees. [24:26] And so today the question isn't simply "Do you believe in Jesus?", but "What is He worth to you?" Will you worship Him not just now, but forever? Will you lay your crown before Him? Will you allow His presence to rearrange your life? Reshape you. Not just now, but forever. For the rest of your life. And into eternity. That Jesus will be worth it. What a terrible thing to just touch the surface of what it means to know Jesus and then arrive in eternity and think, "Oh, that's what it was all about." That we would know Jesus now. This Christmas, may we truly see Him. And when we see Him, fall on our knees. Amen. [25:12] Nick Lugg: Jonathan, are you there? Oh, you're there. The worship team can come back, please.

In this festive episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Cody Cook and guest Jacqueline Isaacs unpack her viral 2011 article A Christmas Carol: A Capitalist Story. Despite Dickens' socialist leanings, the story he crafts actually depends on free markets—without Scrooge's wealth, there's no life-saving operation for Tiny Tim, no turkey for the Cratchits--no redemption arc at all. Isaacs argues capitalism isn't the villain; it's the stage. Even selfish Scrooge fuels prosperity via the “invisible hand,” while transformed Scrooge proves voluntary generosity trumps state poorhouses.Also: which political demographic are the modern day Scrooges? Does the Grinch make a case for commercialism? Which film adaptation of A Christmas Carol is the best? And the oft-forgotten anti-slavery verse in "O Holy Night." Don't get humbugged by socialist talking points--listen to this compelling conversation or else the Ghost of Christmases Libertarian might just come to pay you a visit tonight.Links referenced in this conversation:A Christmas Carol: A Capitalist StoryJacqueline Isaacs on X and Linkedin.The Institute for Faith, Work, & EconomicsJacqueline's Washington Times article "Seeing the People Behind Adam Smith's 'Invisible Hand'"Bellwether CommunicationsCalled to Freedom: Why You Can Be Christian and LibertarianAudio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI!Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

It was this month in 1906 that radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden says he put a Christmas Eve transmission out on wireless that included a rendition of "O Holy Night," which would make it the first Christmas song ever played on the radio. Plus: if you're into big holiday light displays, they don't get much bigger or brighter than the ones in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn. Reginald Fessenden (National Park Service) Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Back our show on Patreon and we'll keep sending sound out into the world too

Drinking before 8am, being serenaded and giving back to the community....you never know what you're gonna get during The Check In!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leon and Lindsey celebrate Advent through the words of O Holy Night, highlighting key moments with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. This week's episode with guest Braxton Cook reflects on a line from the hymn, connecting it to their stories and the wonder of Jesus' birth.

O Holy Night is a well-known Christmas carol that began as a French poem celebrating the opening of a new church. The beloved song we know today was translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight, an American minister and abolitionist, in 1855.This poignant carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity's redemption.O holy night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of our dear Savior's birthLong lay the world in sin and error pining'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious mornA thrill of hope...what a poignant, moving way to describe the feeling in our hearts as we approach the date we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Right now, you may be feeling a weariness you haven't experienced before. Concerns about the health and well-being of your family, and worldly troubles beyond your control, maybe weighing heavily on your heart this year.We invite you to join us as we approach Christmas Day in rejoicing in the Lord. A new and glorious morning is on the way, and our hope is still, and always, in Jesus.Let's pray.Heavenly Father, we confess this year has made us weary. We pine for your holy presence, and we rejoice in your gift of Jesus! Be present among us, Lord. Bring peace to the chaos of this world and renew our hope for the coming year. We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

This message opens with the staggering reality of what actually happened on that night in Bethlehem. We trace the surprising origins of “O Holy Night,” a hymn born out of an unlikely poet, cultural upheaval, and a world pining for hope, only to discover that its power comes from the same thing Luke describes: God stepping into human darkness with unstoppable light.This isn't just the story of Jesus' birth; it's the story of how His arrival confronts suffering and forms a people who live differently because they met Him when “He appeared.”What listeners will learn· Why one of the world's most beloved Christmas hymns was once considered controversial, and how its message still confronts culture today.· What the writer of “O Holy Night” saw in Luke's nativity account that reshapes how we picture that first Christmas night.· How the birth of Jesus speaks directly to human suffering, weariness, and the deepest places we try to hide.· What happens when faith takes the lead, why shepherds and wise men respond the way they do, and what that means for us now.· How the arrival of Christ forms a new kind of people. Marked not by fear or cultural pressure, but by faith, love, humility, and unshakeable hope.Support our mission and learn more atwww.alloflife.churchGive to the work of the gospel herewww.alloflife.churchcenter.com/giving

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

In this stirring and deeply encouraging Advent message, Pastor Karl continues the series The King Has Come with a raw and life-giving exploration of the second great gift Jesus brings: peace.Turning to the familiar yet profound scene in Luke 2:8–20, Pastor Karl invites us into the midnight terror of ordinary shepherds—suddenly confronted by the blinding glory of God—and shows how the very first words from heaven that night were not “Merry Christmas,” but “Fear not.” That first Christmas did not begin with sentimental calm; it began with paralyzing, mega-fear. And right there, in the middle of stacked-on-stacked fear, the angel announced good news of great joy: a Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord, the Prince of Peace.With pastoral tenderness and unflinching honesty, Pastor Karl unmasks fear as the mortal enemy of peace—how it magnifies threats, shrinks our view of God, and paints our future in colors darker than God ever intended. Yet the gospel is stronger: peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of a Person. Peace is not something Jesus gives; peace is who Jesus is—and He gives Himself.Through the shepherds' journey from terror to testimony, we're given clear, scriptural paths out of fear and into the unshakable peace of Christ: speaking God's truth over fear's lies, refusing to agree with the spirit of fear, drawing near to Jesus through spiritual disciplines, and taking bold steps of obedience that move us against comfort and toward surrender.This is a word for everyone whose heart has been ruled by anxiety, worst-case scenarios, or the quiet fears that steal joy—especially in this season. A tender yet urgent call to stop trusting the unknown future to our own control and start trusting it to the known God who entered our fear as a baby in a manger.Because the King has come, fear does not get the final word. Peace does. And when the Prince of Peace takes over a life, what spills out is no longer fear—but praise, testimony, and unshakable confidence in the goodness of God.Essential listening for anyone who longs to trade fear for the peace that passes all understanding this Christmas.Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

Luke 2:8-20  -  Richard White (Greg Covington reading)

Christmas – they talk about baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph – but this Jesus … is He who He says He is? Can Christmas really make a difference – I mean in your life and mine?   WILL THE REAL MESSIAH PLEASE STAND UP? Well, welcome to the second message in a series that I have called, "Message in a Bottle" – in these weeks leading up to Christmas. We are going to take a look at this most amazing night – this Christmas story. You know that wonderful Christmas carol, O Holy Night, the stars, the stars are shining – the shepherds and the angels and Mary and Joseph and that baby Jesus; God in the flesh. And for me, you know, when you strip away all the noise and the rubbish and the commercialism around Christmas, it is the most wonderful celebration. But it struck me how the very beginning of the story of Christmas in the New Testament – if you have a Bible, go and grab it – we are going to Matthew, chapter 1 – it struck me how often we skim over the first dozen or so paragraphs of what God writes about Christmas. If you open up the very first page of the first Book of the New Testament – it's the Book of Matthew and it begins, of all things, with a genealogy; a boring list of names. Now I love doing things that surprise people and a few years ago I was sharing a message leading up to Christmas on this passage in the beginning of Matthew and I asked a lady, a friend of mine, Pamela, to do the Bible reading and I ask her to read through this genealogy. Now fortunately, I gave her a week's notice, because some of the names are just a little bit difficult to get the old tongue around. And when she sat down everybody gave her a standing applause for managing to make it through the genealogy. And I guess most of us haven't heard a message on this genealogy in a long, long time, if ever. I know what you are thinking – genealogy? Berni, are you going to be talking about a genealogy? But listen, listen to what the Apostle Paul writes in Second Timothy, chapter 3, verse 16. He says: Every Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, so that – what? – so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient and equipped for every good work. In other words when I read through this genealogy, and I probably like you, skip through genealogies in the Bible, you know, I kind of don't like to read every word. But as I began to read through this particular genealogy I thought, hang on a minute, God decided to begin the New Testament with a genealogy. Why did He do that? What was going on? This Book of Matthew – "Matthew" literally means, "a gift from God" and it starts with an account of Jesus blood line; His birth line. Jesus Christ – "Jesus" means "Yahweh saves"; God saves. "Christ" means "Messiah" – so you put all that together and this book is a gift from God about God's anointed Saviour. So I'm thinking, I've actually got to get into this genealogy and say: why did God put it here? What does it mean that the Christmas story begins with a genealogy? What is God trying to say to you and me, here and now? Now it's probably not the way that you or I would start a biography of some great leader but genealogies were significant to the Jews. They were about purity of lineage – firstly remember that land was given to Israel by tribes. So your right to own land was affected by your genealogy. If you were a priest, your priestly authority came from your genealogy. And your legal standing – if you were in line for the throne, royal succession came through your genealogy. And the genealogies of people were kept on the public record. In the Sanhedrin and in the temple, you could go and verify that somebody was who they said they were. So to the Jews it wasn't just a boring list of names – it was fascinating. And have a look to see how Matthew, chapter 1 actually starts out. The first verse, "An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" – three main characters, Abraham, David and Jesus. And Abraham and David being referred to here, point back to some promises. We are going to look at those promises today because they have everything to do with Christmas. People were expecting a Messiah – we are going to look at why a little bit later in the programme. But at this point in Israel's history in the first century, they were definitely looking for a Messiah. So God is the keeper of promises and let's just have a quick look to see what the promise is. If you want to flick back to the promise that God made to Abraham, you go to Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1 to 3. Lets have a look at that – Genesis 12:1-3 says this: The Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you and I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing." And if you flick over to Genesis, chapter 15, verse 5, it goes on to say that: God brought Abram outside in his tent and He said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you can count them. And then God said to Abram, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed and the Lord reckoned this as righteousness to him. So here is a promise to Abraham; the father of the whole nation of Israel, that Abraham would have many, many children. Remember he and Sarah were very old and they couldn't have children, yet God was making a promise. So this very first verse of Matthew points back to those promises. It also points back to the promise that God made to David. Lets have a look at that – flick on a little bit to Second Samuel, chapter 7, verse 12 – this is what it says: "When your days are fulfilled," – this is a promise to David, remember; the King: When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name and I will establish his throne and his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me, your throne shall be established forever. So here is the promise to David – that there would be a lineage that would go on forever – that the reign of the House of David would go on forever. David was the Messiah; he was the anointed King of Israel. That's the actual word that they used for the King – the 'Messiah', and the promise of God was the offspring of David – there would be royal succession that would go on forever. So you bring this two promises together and the promise of God is that there will be a King who will rule forever, who will be a blessing to all the nations. The question is what happens next? Well, just after this promise is given to David, David has a son called Solomon and Solomon is the last King of a united Israel. Israel splits in two; they begin to worship idols; God sends prophets; they reject God and ultimately, in 586/587 BC they are exiled to Babylon into slavery. The monarchy is destroyed and really, the whole thing falls apart for Israel because they rejected God. They just ran away from God; they ignored God and for four or five centuries there was no king. I mean, to us, that's like not having a democracy. And by the first century, the Emperor was Roman because they were under Roman rule. There was a governor there who was Roman; there was a false King; the Sanhedrin was corrupt. This was a messy, corrupt, religious, political environment. It was brutal – I mean the Roman oppression was brutal. And into this Matthew writes – God speaks through Matthew of the promise made to Abraham and made to David. They were expecting Messiah. The question is what sort of Messiah were they going to get?   A HEAVEN FULL OF PROMISES So Israel was expecting a Messiah, but what did he look like? Luke, chapter 3 and verse 15, we read about John the Baptist: As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah. Luke, chapter 3, verse 16, we see that John goes on and says: Well, you know, "I baptise you with water but someone who is much more powerful than me is coming. I'm not fit to tie up His sandals and He'll baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire." We read Matthew, chapter 16, verse 13 and: Jesus says to His disciples, "Who do the people say that I am? And they said, "Well, some say that You are John the Baptist, others say that You are Elijah, others say that You are Jeremiah or one of the prophets." See, the people expected a Messiah; they expected God to send them someone; they desired one, but they were mixed up as to what He would look like. There were lots of people called "Jesus" in those days. There were lots of people who claimed to be the Messiah – there was lots of hype. How were they going to pick the right one? And that's what this genealogy is about. Matthew's Gospel was written somewhere around sixty to seventy AD and at this point the Jews and the Christians were arguing about who Jesus was. The Jews said he's not the Messiah; the Christians said yes, He is. No, He's not, yes, He is, no, He's not! And Matthew is specifically writing to a Jewish audience here and he lists on the genealogy of Jesus, "Abraham was the father of Isaac and Isaac the father of Jacob and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar" – and on it goes, this long genealogy. And what it is really saying is, "I know there are a lot of people out there claiming to be the Messiah; I know there are a lot of people claiming to be the one that God sent but here is the genealogy of the Man. Here as a matter of public record is His genealogy and His right to be the anointed King; the Messiah." See, genealogies, for the purposes of land and for the purposes of legal entitlement and for the purposes of royal blood line in this patriarchal society always went through the father. And what it shows here is that Jesus is in fact, a descendant of David and a descendant of Abraham and He is the rightful King. If you don't believe me, it's a matter of public record. This was written at a time when the information was still in the public record in the temple and the Sanhedrin, so people could go and check. People could verify the link of Jesus back to God's promises – back to God's vast plan – they could identify that actually He is the One. There were many prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament – He will come from a woman's womb; He'll be born to a virgin, He'll be born in Bethlehem; murder will surround His birth; He will be given the name Emmanuel; He will be given gifts; He will be taken back to Egypt – many, many prophesies that Jesus opened up in the Old Testament. But here the New Testament comes with, right at the beginning, a legal verification of Jesus entitlement to His claim to be the Messiah. It is evidence that God keeps His promises. And when I look at Christmas through this boring genealogy – lets face it, that's the way we would look at it these days – what I read is that God keeps His promises. Jesus was born on that holy night, the stars, the stars were shining; the very same stars that were shining over Abraham those many centuries before, when God made him a promise that he would be a blessing to many nations. God is faithful – Christmas is about God's faithfulness. This genealogy speaks of God's faithfulness. See, if we just walk into Christmas saying, "I've got to buy some more presents and I've got to get some more food and I've got to do all this, Christmas ends up being meaningless. The New Testament begins with rock solid evidence of the faithfulness of God – that He has indeed fulfilled His promise to Abraham and His promise to David, to send His Son. It's a leap of faith, but it's not a blind leap of faith. The evidence is laid out – it was laid out at a time when people could either verify it or disprove it on the public record. That's why that genealogy is there. We are going look at what all that means for you and me, here and now, next.   HE'S ONE OF US Alright, so we have been looking at this beginning of the Christmas story, this genealogy; this link between the Old Testament and the New; this link that points back to the fact that the whole idea of Christmas began a long, long time before that starry, starry night in Bethlehem. And when you read through the genealogy – I'm not going to do that now – but when you read through the genealogy you find all sorts of people. There are people who were prophesied about; there were people who were totally unknown. There are sixteen names in that genealogy that are not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament – there are Kings, there are paupers, there are Jews, there are Gentiles, there are good Kings – six of them, nineteen bad Kings. We think of King David as one of the good guys but he committed adultery; he had someone murdered. And one of the really interesting things that we are going to look at right now is that there are five women in this genealogy. Now sadly, you go back to this time, two thousand years ago, in the first century and women had no rights; they were chattels; they had no legal rights – they couldn't own land; they could inherit anything; they couldn't testify in a court of law and they were never, I say again, never listed in genealogies. But here in this genealogy we have five women. Now what's that about? In this patriarchal society that never put women in genealogies, why are they there? What is God saying to us, to you and me, here and now about Christmas by putting them there? Well, the first one is in verse 3 – a woman by the name of Tamar. Now she was a temple prostitute; she was Judah's daughter in law and she committed adultery. You can read about her in Genesis, chapter 38, verse 5. The second woman is Rahab – now remember Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. You can read about her in Joshua, chapter 2, verses 1 to 7. The third woman is a woman called Ruth – she has her own Book in the Old Testament. Now Ruth is a Moabite – the Moabites were enemies of the Jews. This is what the Old Testament, Deuteronomy, chapter 23, verse 3, says about Moabites: An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation; none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever. So we've got a Moabite! Verse 6, look at this: And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah. Now is that damning or what? Remember David committed adultery with Bathsheba – she was another man's wife, his name was Uriah, and he, David, committed adultery with Bathsheba. David had Uriah murdered, their first child died, their second son was gift from God, his name was Solomon. You can read about that in Second Samuel, chapters 11 and 12. So here in Jesus' genealogy is not just a temple prostitute, not just a prostitute in Jericho, not just a Moabite who was an enemy of God but here is a woman who conceived one of Jesus ancestors in adultery. And then in verse 16, is the fifth woman – Mary – this woman who as far as the rest of society was concerned, had conceived a son out of wedlock, which brought enormous shame on her and on Joseph. And we are going to look at that next week in a message that I've called, "Jesus – the Illegitimate God". See, here are these five women – five very imperfect women – there are no paragons of virtue; there are no wonderful Israelite, Jewish women. What's God saying to us in all that? I believe He is saying, 'There is no Jew or Greek, no slave or free, no male or female, because all are one in Christ Jesus. Have you ever felt that you are just not good enough to be part of God's family? That somehow you and I fall so far short of the glory of God that we could just never fit into God's family? I believe that this genealogy is an invitation which says you don't have to be good enough. This genealogy deliberately puts those imperfect women into the list to speak to you and me. There are a whole bunch of Christians in God's Kingdom who flounder; who are blown around by this doctrine and that; who don't live in victory; who don't bear fruit; who don't impact other people's lives with the love of Christ – Christians who are hurtling head on towards Christmas just trying to buy presents and just trying to finish off their work and just trying to get all this other stuff done without a deep foundation in their hearts to know what Christmas is about. Listen: Every Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that everyone – everyone includes you and it includes me – everyone who belongs to God may be proficient and equipped for every good work. This genealogy is not just a boring list. This genealogy is how the Holy Spirit; God the Holy Spirit decided to begin the very first Book in the New Testament – the very first Book about the grace of Jesus Christ. He begins with a rock solid platform. The intention of God is that you and I can stand on this rock solid platform. This platform that says at a time when this genealogy could be checked against the public record, it is legally established that Jesus is the Christ. Not just one way but the way, we can know that with certainty through this genealogy. We look at this genealogy – an account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah; Son of David, Son of Abraham. And we can look at the promises God made to Abraham and David and say Matthew is pointing back to those because Jesus is the fulfilment of those promises. God keeps His promises. We can pick this Jesus – this authentic Saviour – from all the other people that say, "I've got a way, try my way, follow me". No! This Jesus is who He says He is. He is the Son of God and then through an amazing act of grace, God points out to us here in this genealogy, through listing these imperfect women; through listing people like David who committed adultery; through listing the good Kings and the bad Kings, that Jesus became one of us. If you ask people who believe in Jesus, is He more like God or is He more like you and me? You know, most of us would answer; Jesus is more like God that He is like you and me. Jesus is fully God but He's fully human too and that's what this genealogy speaks to you and me. It is time for us to have a rock solid place to stand, to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came for you and me – little old imperfect you and me. And that is why Jesus begins His story about Himself this way. It's food for the soul. Christmas is a feast!

The second of our Advent series guided by the retelling of the Christmas story found in the carol, O Holy Night, this week Dave spoke about the arrival of the Magi and what it signified.You can join in our services by visiting us in person at One Church Brighton, Florence Road, Brighton, or by heading to our YouTube channel.If you'd like to know more about One Church Brighton, head to onechurchbrighton.org, or, if you'd like to get in touch with us, email info@onechurchbrighton.org.

Well Byron's got a head cold & is eating some chicken soup & drinking elderberry tincture.  Alicia goes on a talking spree to try to cover for her & we find out that she's not putting up any decorations for the season.  Seasonal memories come up (as expected).    We hope you enjoy this episode of Wyrd Mountain Gals & thanks SO MUCH to everyone sharing, commenting, & passing on your ideas to us.   UV Brite - https://uv-brite.com/ Some games for cats:  https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2015/01/games_for_pets_cats_iphone_app/ Vena's selfie - https://www.instagram.com/p/hGSOmEORsL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Truce 1914 - https://music.apple.com/us/album/truce-1914-single/1326659462 SouthPark Christmas songs:   Cartman sings "O Holy Night" -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p0ptkrc844 Mr. Garrison Wishes You a Merry F&*#ing Christmashttps://youtu.be/K40epl0r-Fg SomaFM Christmas channels: Xmas in Frisko - https://somafm.com/xmasinfrisko/ Christmas lounge - https://somafm.com/christmas/songhistory.html The Year Without A Santa Claus - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4cfza7 Christmas Coconut Cake - https://www.food.com/recipe/christmas-coconut-cake-252900 Broken Glass Pie - https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/broken-glass-dessert/ Bing Crosby White Christmas album - https://youtu.be/CYnJSBhm8wQ Slim Whitmasn Christmas Album - https://youtu.be/08skxsX4tvU V̲i̲nce̲ G̲u̲a̲ra̲ldi̲ - 1965 Greatest Hits - A Charlie Brown Christmas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9kma0diE3s Asheville Holiday Parade - https://www.romanticasheville.com/holiday_parade.htm Unitarian Universalist Church of Catawba Valley - https://uuhickory.org/ 59th Bridge Street Song (Feelin' Groovy) HARPER'S BIZARRE (with lyrics) - https://youtu.be/PBBF3THy2bU Hot Dog King - https://thehotdogkings.com/ The Christmas Ornament Tragedy of 2015 - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10206348327281693&set=a.1136288842062 Loreena mckennitt: A Midwinter Night's Dream - https://youtu.be/GTG0VPLAFkU Windham Hill - A Winter's Solstice - https://youtu.be/kh_sckAUkgE Kuhn Rikon 2-Cup Pull & Chop Food Chopper - https://www.qvc.com/Kuhn-Rikon-2-Cup-Pull-%26-Chop-Food-Chopper-Chop.product.K50212.html?sc=SRCH   #WyrdMountainGals #ByronBallard #Holiday #ElderberryTincture #DigitalWitchery

Wayne Hanson sings his favorite Christmas Carols from his years as a Bell Ringer!

It's one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time, and you'll hear a new rendition of it on Chris Fabry Live. Keith Getty will talk about what he calls the best single Getty Music has ever released. Perhaps part of its draw is that his daughters sing with their mother, Kristyn. Plus, the new Sing! Hymnal is out. There's so much to talk about with Keith Getty when you join us for Chris Fabry Live. Featured resource:The Sing! Hymnal"O Holy Night" December thank you gift:Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David & Barbara Leeman Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here.Become a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heath Mcwilliams

Gabe

"Long lay the world in sin and ever pining, ‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."So goes the second verse of "O Holy Night," where it is hope that thrills us. Hope. Hope is a distinctly Christian word. But hope in modern nomenclature usually suggests that desired outcome has a possibility of failure: "I hope I get to my gate on-time ... I hope I get to see that movie ... I hope that pretty girl says yes to coffee ..." No, Biblical hope is different. It is based on a promise of God that is coming, but not yet. In this first message of Advent, hope is first seen as something that God promised long ago, and is beginning to emerge. There were at least two people who had thought of it all their lives - and soon they would see it with their own eyes. And if we're careful, we'll have the same experience!Listen-in on Sean's conversation with Barry, then catching up with Nate! ▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

Leon and Lindsey celebrate Advent through the words of O Holy Night, highlighting key moments with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. Each episode reflects on a line from the hymn, connecting it to their stories and the wonder of Jesus' birth.

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25; Amos 8:11; Malachi 4:5-6Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

In Week One of our series “The Sounds of Christmas,” we learned that asking how to be Holy like God is really asking how to live a life set apart for Him. It's a reminder that the Holy One stepped into our world so we could know Him, trust Him, and walk with Him.

Advent, which begins on this Sunday, is the season to prepare and wait for Christmas.  This is the first of four messages to dive into the words of O Holy Night – “the weary world rejoices”.  The message offers a perspective on how you can genuinely rejoice during times when you are waiting for what is longed for… as well as an interesting take on Mary and Joseph's preparation for the first Christmas.

Ever wondered what is Advent beyond just lighting candles or opening little doors on a calendar? Advent is about arrival and anticipation—a sacred season that prepares our hearts to celebrate Christ's first coming while also anticipating His second coming.In this episode, we're exploring the rich history of Advent from the 5th-6th centuries and practical ways to make space for Christ in your family this season. Let's face it …the real crisis isn't a busy December—it's a Christ-less Christmas.In this episode:✅What is Advent and how you can celebrate as a family✅Why the first 2 weeks focus on reflection while the last 2 focus on celebration✅How to prepare room in your heart, schedule, and family for Jesus (not just more activities)✅Why hope in Jesus is confident expectation, not just wishful thinking✅Practical ways to anticipate Christ's coming like you'd prepare for honored house guests✅Beautiful traditions using Advent candles, scripture readings, and family devotionsReady to make Advent meaningful? Use the Advent resources below to help your family prepare room for Jesus!Recommended ResourcesChristmas Celebrations Bundle (SAVE $10 with code: DEC10 )Advent Tool Kit (SAVE $10 with code: DEC10 )Star of Bethtlehem ebookChristmas Celebrations ebookChristmas Around the World ebookJotham's JourneyO Come, O Come EmmanuelShow Notes:What Is Advent?Advent means arrival and anticipation. We're going to talk more about this in Tuesday's class, but I want to give you some background.Back in the 5th-6th centuries, the church celebrated Advent in a specific way. The first two weeks of Advent, the church would reflect on the Second Coming. Disciples would chasten their hearts, confess sins, and spend time hoping for the quick coming of the Lord. It was a time of reflection and fasting.The last two weeks of Advent would then transition to focus on the first coming—Christ in the manger. This was a time of feasting.Advent and Christmas are never held as a full re-enactment of the life of Christ but point to our place between the Resurrection and Second Coming.How Do You Walk Through Advent?I'm going to share ideas over the four weeks of Advent, but today I want to talk about making space for Christ.There's a book called "Make Space for Christ" by Susan Narjala, and the concept comes from that line in the Christmas carol: "Let every heart prepare Him room." But how do we actually do that?The Crisis of a Christ-Less ChristmasWe face a crisis of a Christ-less Christmas. We forget the guest of honor—Jesus. We get so wrapped up in gifts, we forget to unwrap the greatest gift of all.The antithesis of fearing God isn't offending Him or denying Him or omitting Him. It's forgetting God. Luke 3:4-6 talks about preparing the way of the Lord.Anticipation Is KeyThink about how you prepare for house guests. It takes time, right? So does preparing for or anticipating the feast of Christmas.You clean the house, you clean the bedrooms. You make sure your guests will be comfortable. You get rid of unnecessary items in the guest room. You declutter. In the same way, we need to confess sin and make room in our hearts.Psalm 27 says, "One thing I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to meditate..." Sometimes you need to rearrange the room if necessary—get rid of toys, add water bottles, clean towels. Rethink, rearrange, and refocus so Christ has room in your family.We're anticipating the second coming of Christ as well. Growing up, we would read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. Now I do Advent candles each week along with Advent Bible reading or Jotham's Journey.When you greet and treat guests with love, it's not because you have to. You get to. You want to.Is There Room for Jesus?Is there room in your heart for Jesus? Is there room in your schedule for Jesus? Is there room in your family for Jesus?We need to re-prioritize. We need to respond in AWE to God's amazing love. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God."Hope: The First Candle in AdventIn America, we use the word "hope" to mean "wish." But in Jesus, hope means expecting Him—confident expectation. It's not just a wish that God is here or that Jesus saves. It's confident expectation.Think about the line from O Holy Night that you could use for copywork, dictation, or a short discussion about "thrill of hope":O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!We're still waiting for His coming again—the second coming. We're still weary from the world, from personal issues.Isaiah 40:31 talks about waiting on the Lord. Think about O Come Emmanuel—Israel hoped and waited 400 years. You can find more about this at howtohomeschoolmychild.com/o-come-o-come-emmanuel.Waiting on GodWe wait on God. I have a family devotion story about this. I'm still waiting on God to move in Steve's life.Kid-Friendly IdeasYou can make this kid-friendly using fabric or plastic figures. At Faith Passages, we actually acted it out with the kids.Ready to make Advent meaningful in your home? Download the free Advent resources and O Come Emmanuel study at HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/o-come-o-come-emmanuel to help your family prepare room for Jesus. Learn practical ways to celebrate hope, peace, joy, and love while pointing your children to both Christ's first coming and His return!

O HOLY NIGHT Mason Worthy Luke 4:18-19 1. Sin's chains enslaved humanity. Romans 6:17 Romans 6:23 Titus 3:3 2. Christ's coming announced freedom. Isaiah 9:6-7 3. His Spirit still breaks chains today. Luke 4:18-19 Romans 8:11

We kicked off our advent series this week. We're focusing on hope and have been inspired by the carol O Holy Night. Lianne spoke on Sunday about the first verse of the song and what it has to say about hope today.You can join in our services by visiting us in person at One Church Brighton, Florence Road, Brighton, or by heading to our YouTube channel.If you'd like to know more about One Church Brighton, head to onechurchbrighton.org, or, if you'd like to get in touch with us, email info@onechurchbrighton.org.

Top Stories for November 25th Publish Date: November 25th PRE-ROLL: BUFORD HOLIDAY FESTIVAL From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, November 25th and Happy Birthday to Joe DiMaggio I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. John Berry ready to kick off 29th annual Christmas tour in Sugar Hill 'A welcome addition' — Popular Christkindl Market coming to Lawrenceville for the holiday season Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, resigns house seat All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia - DTL HOLIDAY STORY 1: John Berry ready to kick off 29th annual Christmas tour in Sugar Hill John Berry’s not making it home for Thanksgiving—again. The country music legend is kicking off his 29th annual Christmas with John Berry tour at the Eagle Theatre in Sugar Hill, where he and his band will spend the week rehearsing before the first show on Friday, Nov. 28. The tour hits 17 cities, including Macon, the only stop that’s been on the schedule every single year. “Even during COVID, the mayor made sure we kept the streak alive,” Berry said. The show? A mix of his hits (Your Love Amazes Me, Standing on the Edge of Goodbye) and Christmas classics from his O Holy Night album. STORY 2: 'A welcome addition' — Popular Christkindl Market coming to Lawrenceville for the holiday season One of the country’s top Christmas markets has found a new home—right in Lawrenceville. The Atlanta Christkindl Market, a German-style holiday tradition that draws up to 160,000 visitors each year, kicks off on Black Friday and runs through Christmas Eve at the Lawrenceville Lawn. Think handcrafted gifts, authentic German food and drinks, a 150-foot Christmas tree, a Ferris wheel, and family-friendly entertainment. After four years in Buckhead, the market outgrew its space. “This is a perfect fit,” said Mayor David Still. “It’s another reason to celebrate the season in our city.” STORY 3: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, resigns house seat Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene dropped a bombshell Friday—she’s stepping down from her seat in the House. Her last day? January 5. The announcement came via a video she posted on X (formerly Twitter) Why now? What’s next? There’s plenty of room for speculation. Greene’s exit is bound to shake things up. One thing’s for sure: the political world will be buzzing about this one for a while. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets - SUGAR HILL HOLIDAY STORY 4: Police: Hit-and-run driver allegedly abandoned injured passenger after accident A horrifying crash in Duluth earlier this month left a passenger fighting for their life—and the driver now facing a stack of charges. Samuel Contreras-Garcia, who police say fled the scene on foot, has been charged with felony hit-and-run, reckless driving, and more. The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 16 at Buford Highway and Duluth Highway. Officers found a mangled silver sedan wedged between poles, and the unrestrained front-seat passenger had been thrown from the car. Critically injured, they were rushed to the hospital. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Contreras-Garcia abandoning the wreck without calling 911. He was arrested two days later. STORY 5: Gwinnett DA's Office recognizes law enforcement The Red, Blue, and You event wasn’t the only moment of gratitude for Gwinnett’s law enforcement. The District Attorney’s Office hosted its own appreciation ceremony, shining a spotlight on the bravery and service of officers, deputies—and even a nurse—who’ve gone above and beyond. Held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, the event honored more than a dozen individuals from six agencies. “When lives are on the line, having people like this step up—it’s everything,” said DA Patsy Austin-Gatson. We’ll be right back. Break 3: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink Final STORY 6: GCPS announces 2026 graduation schedule Gwinnett County Public Schools just dropped the 2026 graduation schedule, and it’s a mix of tradition and big arena vibes. Phoenix High kicks things off on May 14 at Lawrenceville Lawn, while Duluth and Discovery close it out on Memorial Day, May 25, at Gas South Arena. Most schools will stick with Gas South Arena for their ceremonies, but a few—like Central Gwinnett, Brookwood, Parkview, and Mill Creek—are keeping it old-school with graduations at their home stadiums. STORY 7: Gwinnett's tag offices moving to new hours of operation in 2026 Starting in 2026, Gwinnett’s tag offices are trimming their hours—closing 30 minutes to an hour earlier each day. Beginning Jan. 1, offices will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Right now, they stay open until 5:30 p.m. most days and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Why the change? Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell pointed to the growing use of self-service kiosks—16 in total, with three available 24/7. “We want to make things easier,” she said. Oh, and heads up: all tag offices, the main office, and the call center will close at noon on Dec. 5 for system updates. Back to normal Dec. 8. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: STRAND THEATRE Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill Strand Marietta – Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre Holiday Celebration 2025 – City of Sugar Hill 2025 Buford Holiday Festival & Parade All-In-One Flyer NewsPodcast, CurrentEvents, TopHeadlines, BreakingNews, PodcastDiscussion, PodcastNews, InDepthAnalysis, NewsAnalysis, PodcastTrending, WorldNews, LocalNews, GlobalNews, PodcastInsights, NewsBrief, PodcastUpdate, NewsRoundup, WeeklyNews, DailyNews, PodcastInterviews, HotTopics, PodcastOpinions, InvestigativeJournalism, BehindTheHeadlines, PodcastMedia, NewsStories, PodcastReports, JournalismMatters, PodcastPerspectives, NewsCommentary, PodcastListeners, NewsPodcastCommunity, NewsSource, PodcastCuration, WorldAffairs, PodcastUpdates, AudioNews, PodcastJournalism, EmergingStories, NewsFlash, PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Advent series, Leon and Lindsey celebrate the season through the words of O Holy Night, highlighting key moments with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. Each episode reflects on a line from the hymn, connecting it to their stories and the wonder of Jesus' birth.

This week, guests will be Soarin' to new destinations in 2026, Make-A-Wish made a big Halloween splash for kids, Parkside Market has some changes, a possible glimpse of new nighttime entertainment, a special overnight event, we talk about our latest trip and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: Next year is the 250th anniversary of The United States of America. As part of the celebration, Disney has announced that a new version of Soarin' will be coming to the parks. Soarin' Across America will premiere at Disneyland and Walt Disney World next summer. The new version will highlight some of the country's natural beauty and city landscapes. More than a dozen locations will be featured. – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/soarin-across-america-at-disneyland-and-disney-world/ Southern Californians have been looking to the skies to get a glimpse of new possibilities coming to Disney Nighttime Entertainment. Recent drone testing in Santa Clarita, California has shown Disney characters from Peter Pan, to Moana, to Sorcerer Mickey, and more! Disney and ABC Studios own two lots on the Golden Oak Ranch where this testing is speculated to have taken place. To see what was being tested, check out the link in our show notes. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2025/10/22/is-this-video-a-major-clue-about-a-new-disney-drone-show/#more-1077132 https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disney-ranch-drones/ Something interesting that we learned when we were visiting is that Sip and Sonder, the coffee shop that was part of Parkside Market, had closed. In its place is Parkside Market Coffee & Tea. The location features hot and cold coffee and tea drinks, along with pastries, savory breakfast bites, and cinnamon rolls of different flavors. – https://www.micechat.com/425707-disneyland-update-halloweens-last-hurrah-holiday-sneak-peek-refurb-rush/ Last week, when we were in the park, we were able to catch a glimpse of Disney's partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This time, they partnered with some of the world's top creators to grant wishes for 40 kids at the ultimate Halloween experience. 16 kids met MrBeast with a scavenger hunt through the parks, A for Adley hosted a playdate with crafts, Disney dolls, and Rainbow Ghost Rescue. Mark Rober dropped eggs off the Millennium Falcon to teach families how to make contraptions to save their eggs from cracking. Chef Amaury Guichon did a live chocolate-making demo, Doctor Mike built a lightsaver, and San & Colby rode Haunted Mansion. Disney partners with Make-A-Wish to grant a wish for every hour of every day. – https://disneyparksblog.com/community-outreach/disney-make-a-wish-mrbeast-and-more-creators-grant-wishes-at-disneyland/ Last week, The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration taped segments for the holiday special overnight. D23 members could register to attend the event, which ran from 11pm to 6am. Guests were treated to performances by Nicole Scherzinger singing “O Holy Night” and “Mary Did You Know?” Gwen Stefani performed her new holiday song “Shake the Snow Globe” and “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.” – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-overnight-holiday-special-recording-recap/ Halloween is almost here, but the holiday season is quick to move on at the Disneyland Resort. 2025 Holiday Merchandise has arrived all over the resort. Some of the collections this year are the Mickey Mouse Family Christmas Collection, the Gingerbread Collection, the Snowman Trent Collection, Winter Scenic Collection, Disney Hanukkah Collection, Disney Holiday Haven Collection, Disney Winter Peppermint Collection, Disney Fair Isle Print Collection, and Disney Christmas Plaid Collection. – https://www.micechat.com/423292-disney-holiday-merchandise-2025/ SnackChat: Churro Talk with Vern Discussion Topic: Halloween Trip Recap and JPL Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Barry and Abigail discuss Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman and sample Light Cone, Hypnopompic, and Red Eye from Grimm Artisanal Ales in Brooklyn, New York.Barry spoke about his memory of encountering a curfew during a period of race riots in Bridgeton, New Jersey, where he grew up, when he was eight years old.Prior to this episode, Abigail knew Tracy Chapman best from her version of O Holy Night.Read about Luke Combs' cover of Fast Car that made Tracy Chapman the first black woman to win Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards in 2023. Watch Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman perform Fast Car together at the 2023 Grammys.Read about the Maillard reaction.Barry compared She's Got Her Ticket to Neighborhood #2 (Laika) by Arcade Fire. Listen to our discussion of Arcade Fire: Dees Siblings (Arcade Fire and Dees Brothers Brewery).In our discussion of Why?, Abigail referenced the Androposphere from Whoah by Midnight Oil. Listen to our discussion of Midnight Oil: Barley and Rain (Midnight Oil and Intracoastal Brewing Co.).Abigail then entered Why? into the Abigail Hummel School of Speaking Smartly About Music with a comparison to How Come? from the original off-Broadway cast recording of Children's Letters to God.Abigail posited that For My Lover may have been a creative retelling of Loving v. Virginia.Up next… Short n' Sweet by Sabrina CarpenterJingles are by our friend Pete Coe.Visit Anosmia Awareness for more information on Barry's condition.Follow Barry or Abigail on Untappd to see what we're drinking when we're not on mic!Leave us a rating or a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | YouTube | Substack | Website | Email us | Virtual Jukebox | Beer Media Group

It's Festive Friday, and for this episode we were joined by Alonso to dig into a holiday movie that is absolutely insane.ABOUT CIVIL CHRISTMASDuring the Civil War, a wounded Union soldier falls in love with a Southern woman while taking refuge in her cabin on Christmas Eve.AIR DATE & PLATFORM FOR CIVIL CHRISTMASJuly 2, 2024 | VODCAST & CREW OF CIVIL CHRISTMASSophie Bolen as Aura-LeeKyle Patrick Douglas as DouglasAndrew Dawe-Collins as Grandpa CharlieBRAN'S CIVIL CHRISTMAS SYNOPSISWe're dropped into the Civil War as I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day plays.Cut to this woman in her cabin. She hears a sound outside and thinks it's her grandpa. She runs out and, for some reason, bursts into Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Then she goes back in and sings a song that—honestly—makes it sound like she's in love with her grandpa. I don't know.There's a knock at the door. She grabs her gun and finds a wounded Yankee outside. Even though helping him could get her in trouble, she brings him in and stitches him up. He falls asleep, wakes up, and hears her sing O Holy Night—after which he just casually mumbles that he loves her.They eat and sing Up on the Housetop together, which somehow inspires her to decorate for Christmas. There's something off about this guy, but I can't quite place it. Then he recites A Visit from St. Nicholas and asks her to sing again, so they do The First Noel.That's when he breaks the news: her grandpa isn't coming home. He says they spent hours together by a fire, had a heart-to-heart, grandpa wrote a poem to God…and then died. To cope, she sings Silent Night. Naturally.They have a quick “nuanced” conversation about slavery and then immediately slide into What Child Is This. She says goodnight, and that's when he drops the bomb: he actually killed her grandpa after grandpa shot him in the back. Oh, and by the way, they knew each other as kids and were first loves. He gives her another letter from grandpa, and they cap it all off by singing a slow version of Jingle Bells.He proposes, she says yes, and they celebrate on the porch. Then—plot twist—it turns out they're in one of Krampus' snow globes, and suddenly everything makes sense. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textWhat better way to celebrate our 300th episode and the end of our "Stories Behind the Songs," series than by delving into some of the most beloved Christmas Carols! We all know the words and music, but do we know the stories behind these timeless favorites? Some of them may surprise you!Intro song performed by Julia Gavin Holmes, and used with permissionO Holy Night - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twmh_hGinQM Go Tell it on the Mountain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQjA7KimgBY Angels We Have Heard on High - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOnivHAhdU0 Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to check out everything Proverbs 9:10 on our website, www.proverbs910ministries.com! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter, Truth Social, and Gettr!