COMMON GROUND COFFEE HOUSE #65

The black one, Shadow, is the black german shepherd we rescued a year ago, and the lead is Snoopy, our little beagle.

Sheila, I don't know wot I did, but it is here. I still have to learn how to shrink

By the way, we are the coldest region in Canada to-day, including the far north. I would rather have a different distinction..even the house got down to 50f in the night.

Cheers,

Jim

 

11F in Philly - wind chills well below zero! BRRRR!

But, bright and sunny - not like last night with the ice flying around. Did you hear about the 70-car pileup up on I-80 in northern PA? God is good - no one was killed.

Last minute shopping all done? Mine's not. Still should pick up a few things for hubby and daughter.

 

They're lovely dogs Jim. Nick would love a puppy. He wants a breed that will remain small but not thin. He's seen a cross between two breeds that fits his criteria but they're still $350. so that's out of the question!

We rushed right out as soon as I heard Nick and I could get flu shots in the next town, same county. The drive, the wait and a stop by Big Lots to pacify the boys took a total of just under 2 hours. The shot was paid for by Nick's Peachcare insurance but my insurance isn't accepted at the health dept. so it was $20. for me. Probably Canadian shots... and I thank my Canadian friends for their generousity to us!

Diane

 

There was no temperature (0 degF)when Dad got the paper in this morning.

The dogs look pretty nice. I assume they are very friendly, Jim?

 

Well it's up to 27° but with wind gusts of 28 mph so still quite cold! Nick and the boy from next door are playing outside in the sun while Ty takes a nap. Ty has a nasty nose but his cough is gone.

It's about time for Max and Morgan to come. Think I'll put in some Christmas movies. Morgan likes to play games on the computer so I'll not be online much this afternoon.

I misspelled generosity in my last post! YIKES!

 

Ya'll pray for me quick. I somehow allowed myself to be talked into decorating gingerbread houses with 7 kids! They range from 4 to 12 so this should be fun.

It's forty degrees here. Cold but not to cold to run around in just a sweater.

 

Sounds like an easy Sunday morning to me! Just give each one a task they can handle, and teamwork will win out! And if not, you can eat your mistakes!!

 

Our Sunday School story next week is on the Wise Men so we're going to finish crowns for each child with a sign for their neck that says 'Wise Men STILL seek Him!'

Burger King will give you all the crowns you want and I'll spray paint them gold to hide the lettering.... and let the kids glue on jewels and glitter.

 

Debby, I made them all a house of their own out of graham crackers and royal icing. They are decorating as we speak. It's the quietest now that it has been all day. I hope that extra kid's parents realize just how much candy they are into here.

This was my poor, bored, there's nothing to do, kid's idea. I wonder just what they have planned for tomorrow.

At least before all this started, the kids and I were able to shop for T. Today was the first chance I've had to even think about shopping for him.

Diane, the crown idea sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure just what we're doing next week but I guess I'd better be finding out. I teach next Sunday.

 

7 kids and frosting? Could get interesting.

As for Sunday, my lesson materials cover the Wise Men too, but with an interesting take - that they were "foriegn visitors," and that therefore we learn that anyone can worship Jesus, no matter where they come from or what they look like. Have to say that's a new one on me. Writers usually make the point about seeking, or the gifts, or that they followed directions, or worship in general.

Star-shaped cookies sound interesting, though.

 

It's 35 degrees here, and the sun is just now shining through a bit. I could sure use a cup of coffee right now. Got the thermostat turned down to 68 and it's cold in this apartment. Can't wait until Vivian gets home. Tonight we're watching "Christmas In Connecticut" (the REAL one with Barbara Stanwyck in it) or "It's A Wonderful Life" in black and white.

Vivian and I bought each other a house for Christmas. We're just waiting on the appraisal to go through to the loan officer and underwriters so we can close on January 3rd.

 

Jim I love your dogs. Especially your beagle. I own a beagle too. Her name is Copper. She is tri-color.
This morning here it was 9 below. Today we are supposed to reach a high of 6. Plus 5:00 this morning the power went out. They did not get it back on until 8:00. There were 1500 people without power and it was 9 below outside.

 

Jim, I too am fond of Beagles. Viv and I want to get a few sometime next year.

 

Once knew a woman who adopted a whole litter of beagles - seven - and kept them all. She also had a miniature pomeranian who herded them like sheep. And they obeyed the pom.

 

Ah... I like that idea of star shaped cookies!
Wise Men Worship Jesus
Text: Matthew 2:1-11; Micah 5:2; Psalm 72:10,11,15

Prop: a poster of the baby Jesus receiving gifts from the wise men.

Summary: Wise men from the east gave gifts to the baby Jesus and worshipped him as God. Today men who are wise still worship Jesus.

Do you know who has a birthday at Christmas? [Jesus] Yes, the baby Jesus is the reason for the season. Now tell me, how many of you like to get presents on your birthday? [ask for a show of hands] Yes, all of you! Well today I want to tell you about the baby Jesus and the gifts he received shortly after being born.

The people of Israel knew that the Savior would one day be born in Bethlehem, a small village near Jerusalem. The prophet Micah had foretold this over 700 years before Jesus was born. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)

Now the wise men from the east had followed a star that God the Father had placed in the sky to guide them. When they arrived in Jerusalem they went to see King Herod. They asked him where they could find the newly born king so they could go to worship him. This troubled King Herod and made him jealous and mad. He didn’t like the idea of someone else (much less a child) being called a king. He asked the priests and they told him Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Then Herod told the wise men to return after they found the child king and tell him so he could go and worship him also. King Herod was trying to trick the wise men, because he really meant to harm the child.

So the wise men continued to follow the star to Bethlehem until they found the house where the baby Jesus lay. We are not certain how many wise men came. We can guess that maybe at least three came because that is how many gifts they brought. They may have even been kings from other lands in the east (Arabia and Persia) because one of the gifts was gold, which is very expensive.

There is a prophecy in Psalm 72 that says kings from Arabia would bring gifts, in particular the gift of gold, and worship him. ...the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him... to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba... (Psalm 72:10,11,15).

[Read Matthew 2:11] The wise men worshipped the baby Jesus as God the Savior and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts were very meaningful. Gold was fitting for a king. Frankincense was a resin from a balsam tree used as a medicine. This king would heal his people. Myrrh, an herb used in burials, was the most unusual gift in that it pointed to the importance that this child-king’s death would mean later in life.

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord. These wise men came to worship the newborn king. Today, men who are wise still worship Jesus. When you open your presents on Christmas morning this year, remember to pause and thank God for sending us the greatest gift of all: his Son Jesus.

©1998 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.

 

For little guys, I would add to that by bringing in some perfume (for myrrh), a cinnamon stick or real incense, and show them my gold wedding ring when talking about the gifts.

Hey, I still think we should have a teachers forum!

 

Well it looks like we're all teaching wise men on Sunday. Our emphasis is different ways we can worship, just as the wise men brought different gifts. We're making crown magnets.

 

I was also thinking of those gold covered chocolate coins they have at the dollar store as a treat for the kids. You can get a bag of them for a dollar.

My Lifeway material is geared for ages 2-4 so I'm sure it's dumbed down a bit.