Entertainment

Here we have the London, England version of the poem written by Aussie born Londoner Kim Van Wyck and forwarded to me by Terry Blakenship.

Twas the night before Christmas,
In England, you know,
the planned tube strike went ahead,
the streets full of snow.

Asleep in their terrace house,
were Charles and Jane,
Dreaming of Christmas dinner
And the weight they would gain.

Not stockings but polished shoes,
At the foot of their beds,
For this was Old Blighty,
What more need be said?

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Cybersalt News

Sunday greetings everyone - especially you PearlyGates subscribers! I have a bumper crop of Christmas items for the PearlyGates list so this month I'm sending it out twice a week as well.

Thanks to everyone who has sent in ideas about how hard life is for hermaphroditic snails. There haven't been many. In fact they are coming in at a snail's pace, but I'll post the list in Wednesday's mailing. And if you are a new subscriber and think I must be off my rocker, you can catch up on this sage by reading previous Cybersalt News items at www.cybersalt.org/news/cybersalt-news/

Today's video share is one I watched this week that made me think. It answers the question, "Are we moraly better than our ancestors?" I know many who have seen great changes in their lifetimes would answer, "No" but the question relates to more than - and farther back than - that. 

You can watch the video by clicking here.

Enjoy the rest of today's mailing!

~ Pastor Tim

A preacher prepared for Sunday morning service, but only one person, a farmer, was there. He asked the farmer, "What do you think we should do?"

The farmer replied with a draw, "Well, if only one cow came into the barn, I'd feed it."

So the preacher mounted the pulpit and began to preach... and preach ... and preach. After about two hours, he concluded.

Then he stepped down and said to the farmer, "So, what did you think?"

The farmer replied, "Well, if only one cow came into the barn, I certainly wouldn't try to feed it all the hay."

Let us do for a second time what we refused to do at first; this will avoid setting a precedent.

"Be a Billionaire!"

and Help

Refugees and

Persecuted Christians

A friend of mine bought a new car that sported an on-board computer.

One Sunday morning when he got into the car to drive to church, the digital display lit up.

Glancing at the readout, he chuckled at the announcement:

"Time for service."

"When we come across suffering in which there is no deliverance and no illumination, the only thing to do is to be reverent with what we do not understand."

- Oswald Chambers, Baffled to Fight Better

If you like this one, there is another version of the "Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13) rewritten for Christmas here. 

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If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime: but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ,  have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure.

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.

Rev. James Snyder, God's Penman, writes . . . . 

I have had a certain dream many times over the years. Of course, it might lean towards being a nightmare if it does not come true.

The dream is that one day in the week; I can have everything go my way. The nightmare part of that dream is that it never tells me which day everything will go my way.

One morning I told the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage about my dream to see if she could give me any advice.

The Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.

The Top Seven things overhead on the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem:

7 Man, I'm starting to get a rush from this frankincense!

6 You guys ever eat camel meat?  I hear it tastes like goat.

Memo From Santa

I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer serve the States of Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind.

However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us.