Cybersalt News
Sunday greetings and Merry Christmas everyone!
Susan and I pray that the peace and light of Jesus rests upon and shine within your heart today.
Mrs. Cybersalt finished our Christmas letter a few days ago - too late to reach some in time for today, but just in time to share it with you. If you are interested in reading it and news about those who are so close to our hearts here at Cybersalt Headquarters, you can view/download it in PDF format by clicking here.
Enjoy the rest of today's mailing!
~ Pastor Tim
Today's CleanLaugh
Christmas Explained
The other night, three-year-old Billy was showing the Terracotta nativity scene in his living room to his stuffed dragon.
"This is an activity scene," he said to the dragon.
"It's when they put breakable things out to watch the Baby Jesus sleep."
Today's One-liner
One-liner #1151
Mary glared at me
Pa rumpa pum pum,
Me and my drum.
Today's Clean Pun
More Christmas Puns
Some of you on this list will actually enjoy these - proof once again of the need for more therapists in the world, lol.
What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!
What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?
Santa Claustrophobia!
What disasters could happen if you dropped the Christmas turkey?
The downfall of Turkey, the break-up of China and the overthrow of Greece!
What's ice?
Skid Stuff!
Where do snowmen go to dance?
Snowballs!
How do snowmen travel around?
By icicle!
What did the guest sing at the Eskimo's Christmas party?
Freeze a jolly felloW!
What is King Wenceslas' favorite pizza?
One that's deep pan, crisp, and even.
Today's Quote
Quote #1599
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- The Bible, Isaiah 9:6
Today's Illustration
The Gift of the Magi
God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25). The gifts of the magi are not given by way of assistance or need-meeting. It would dishonor a monarch if foreign visitors came with royal care-packages.
Nor are these gifts meant to be bribes. Deuteronomy 10:17 says that God takes no bribe. Well, what then do they mean? How are they worship?
The gifts are intensifiers of desire for Christ himself in much the same way that fasting is. When you give a gift to Christ like this, it’s a way of saying, “The joy that I pursue (verse 10!) is not the hope of getting rich with things from you. I have not come to you for your things, but for yourself. And this desire I now intensify and demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more, not things. By giving to you what you do not need, and what I might enjoy, I am saying more earnestly and more authentically, ‘You are my treasure, not these things.’”
I think that’s what it means to worship God with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
May God take the truth of this text and waken in us a desire for Christ himself. May we say from the heart, “Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the King of Israel. All nations will come and bow down before you. God wields the world to see that you are worshiped. Therefore, whatever opposition I may find, I joyfully ascribe authority and dignity to you, and bring my gifts to say that you alone can satisfy my heart, not these.”
- John Piper, from the Advent Reading “Good News of Great Joy”
Featured Illustrations are items well suited for illustrating or inspiring a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional. Funny, moving, or perhaps even graphic, the point of them is the point you make with them.
The Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.org - a member of the Cybersalt family of sites.