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BIRTHDAYS: Kit Carson, 1809; James Joule, 1818;
Howard Hughes, 1905; I.F. Stone, 1907; John Langstaff
(children's author), 1920; Ava Gardner, 1922; Nicholas
Meyer, 1946.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY:

On this date in 1492 Columbus's flagship, the SANTA
MARIA, was wrecked on a reef off Haiti.

On this date in 1801 the American painter and
naturalist Charles Wilson Peale exhibited a mounted
skeleton of a Mastodon.

On this date in 1814 the War of 1812 ended when the
U.S. and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent.

On this date in 1818 Joseph Mohr, a preacher in
Oberndorf, Germany, wrote the words for "Silent
Night." Franz Gruber, the schoolmaster and organist,
composed the music.

On this date in 1948 the first totally solar-heated
home was completed in Dover, Mass.

On this date in 1968 the Apollo 8 astronauts broadcast
a Christmas message while orbiting the moon.

MEANINGLESS FACTS: Before Perry Como became a singing
star his occupation was a barber... Georgia was the
fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution...
Baseball’s Cy Young’s given name was Denton True
Young... (My continued thanks to LM for the
meaningless facts!)

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Thanks to MAK: A Soldiers Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
And to see whom in this home did live.

I looked all about. A strange sight I did see
No Tinsel. No presents. Not even a tree.
No stocking by the mantle just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different. It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier, once I could see
clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for his bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to
fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year
Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here,

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a Christmas Eve in a land so far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry. This life is my choice,
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my regiment."

The soldier rolled over and drifted off to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still
And we both shivered from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night.
This Guardian of Honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and
pure,
Whispered, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas day, all is
secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend... and to all a good night

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa
Japan. The following is his request. I think it is
reasonable...

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind of favor by sending
this to as many people as you can. Christmas will be
coming soon and some credit is due our U.S. service
men and woman our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny
bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our
heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for
us. Please do your small part to plant this seed.

Thank You -Frederick Kole A Vietnam Veteran

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Thanks to LBS: THAT TIME OF YEAR

"'Tis the season to be jolly",
Everyone says about this time.
To say otherwise would be folly;
Completely out of sync or rhyme.

To be jolly, we should want to give.
Give of ourselves, and that from the heart.
"To lend a hand to help others live",
For ev'ryone would be a good start.

To miser Scrooge it was "Bah, humbug",
For his attitude was very bad.
Instead of giving ev'ryone a hug,
He would make them very, very sad.

He didn't want to give a gift,
For it would cost him too much money.
He couldn't see giving gives a lift
And makes someone's life warm and sunny.

There'll always be Scrooges in the world,
But let none of us become that way.
Let the banner of joy be unfurled
Both at Christmas and ev'ry other day.

By L. B. Strawn
December 8, 1999

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Thanks to LBS: GIFT OF GIVING

The holiday season comes with lots and lots of rain
And just like the water, our money goes down the
drain.
But what would the season be, without the spirit of
living?
It would be like the world of the dead, without the
gift of giving.

For the ability to give is a gift, which came from
God, above;
HE gave his beloved son as a token of HIS undying
love.
And Jesus continued the gift by dying on Calvary
To save everyone who obeys him, every sinner just like
me.

Oh, that I may follow and imitate their blessed
example
That others may see in me a tiny bit of a sample
Of the greatness of God and HIS blessed son.
May others see and say, " In all, may HIS will be
done."

By L. B. Strawn
December 1, 1998

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May God Bless You as You Study and Obey His Word. Tim Smith
Gospel Preacher -- Circle East Church of Christ, Dothan, AL
See the Circle East Church of Christ Webpage --
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