Signs & Wonders Blog

During my childhood, I enjoyed watching Christmas specials on TV. This past Wednesday, I found one on YouTube I don’t recall seeing before. “ Christmas Lost and Found ” featured the claymation characters Davey and his talking dog Goliath. In this 1965 production by the Lutheran Church of America, Davey repeatedly complains, “I don’t feel Christmas.”  Davey tries various things associated with the holiday such as putting up lights and eating Christmas cookies. His dad also gives him money to purchase a tree from a new kid named Kenny. After Davey bought presents for his family and friends, Goliath suggested his owner now felt the Christmas spirit. Davey replied, “All I got is no money left.”  Meanwhile, Davey’s sister Sally set up a nativity scene in their home. That inspired him to gather his friends and perform a Christmas pageant in the town theater. Davey portrayed one of the wise men singing “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” Sally played Mary. Goliath insisted on being a ...

Among the things that make the holiday season memorable are family traditions. One dictionary defines tradition as “the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.” While growing up in Moorhead, Minnesota, my family had our share of Christmas rituals. One of them was my sister Tanya and I taking turns opening up the little flaps on our advent calendar. My immediate family always opened presents on Christmas Eve after Dad came home from work in the late afternoon (or in the morning if he had the day off). Tanya and I passed the time by played the board game Monopoly , which often took two hours to complete. Sometimes we also went to a candlelight service at the Lutheran church we attended across the river in Fargo, North Dakota. Later that night, I would get together with my mother’s side of the family at Grandma Tweiten’s house. Often we ate a light dinner but then always sang Christmas carols before opening presents. Eventually, my Aunt Gaye added a tradition...

A war continues against Christmas and traditions associated with that. It’s bad enough the PC police insist on people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas ”  to avoid offending non-Christians. Now a liberal-leaning publication has gone to faultfinding a popular animated classic many of us watched while growing up. The HuffPost criticized “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” for being “bigoted” and “seriously problematic” because of bullying scenes. It was even labelled “homophobic.” That reminded me of an exchange of emails I had around Christmastime eight years ago. It involved a disc jockey familiar with my old novelty songs still being played on Dr. Demento’s radio show . A New Yorker who calls himself A-Log didn’t like a YouTube video he saw of me preaching against same-sex marriage. He thought it was hypocritical to talk about God’s love but not accepting alternative lifestyles. What I find hypocritical is LGBT activist s campaigning for equal rights but tryi...

You better look up Look up into the sky  You better be ready I’m telling you why  Jesus Christ is coming again He’s gathering a list  And checking it twice  Gonna come for those He paid the price  Jesus Christ is coming again He sees you when you're sinning  But hears you when you pray He knows if you are saved or not  So be saved for He is the Way (to the tune of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" -  new lyrics by T. R. Post   © 20 11)

Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh. JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year. JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies. JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. JESUS stands at your door, knocks, and then enters your heart. You have to stand in line to see Santa. JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. Santa lets you sit on his lap. JESUS lets you rest in His arms. Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?" JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. JESUS has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is HO HO HO. JESUS offers health, help and hope. Santa says, "You better not cry....