");document.writeln("

t. Gitz Rice belonged to a famous Canadian regiment that was sent to France in World War I. His regiment fought across the bleak no-man\'s-land under fierce fire from the enemy. One unusual instrument Rice\'s company took with them was a piano on which rice composed the famous war-time song, \"Mademoiselle from Armentieres.\"

"); document.writeln("

On Christmas Eve the piano was brought to the front-line trenches. That night, an eerie quiet settled over no-man\'s-land that felt like a lull before deadly attacks at daylight. Enemy troops were so close they could be heard talking.

"); document.writeln("

Shortly before midnight, Rice began playing Christmas carols in a British trench. The melody, \"Silent Night, Holy Night,\" rang out and pierced the cold, frightening night. Then he played \"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.\"

"); document.writeln("

The Canadian soldiers joined in and sang with great gusto. Suddenly they were startled to hear the German soldiers joining them in song: \"Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.\" Then followed other carols familiar to Christians everywhere.

"); document.writeln("

Rice then played a German aria from Wagner\'s \"Tannhaeuser.\" As he did a Canadian soldier climbed out of his trench, stood in the open and sang the words.

"); document.writeln("

\"Mehr! Mehr!\" (More! More!) shouted the Germans. Then one of their own men climbed out of his trench, standing as a possible target for the British rifles, and blended his rich baritone voice with that of the Canadian.

"); document.writeln("

At least for one night the message of Christmas broke through to those battle-weary soldiers as they laid their guns aside and sang together the story about the greatest event the world had ever seen—the story of God coming to earth as a baby to save lost mankind and, ultimately, to end all wars forever.

"); document.writeln("

\'Mehr! Mehr!\' (More! More!)
"); document.writeln(" shouted the Germans.

"); document.writeln("

The Christmas story is truly amazing. Its celebration every year for the last 2,000 years is a constant reminder of its central place in mankind\'s history. Even our calendar is dated according to the birth of Christ.

"); document.writeln("

It is such an amazing story, as Harry Reasoner, well-know television commentator shared on 60 Minutes, that \"it leaves you only three ways of accepting it.\"

"); document.writeln("

\"One is cynically—as a time to make money or endorse the making of it.

"); document.writeln("

“Another is graciously—the appropriate attitude for non-Christians who wish their fellow citizens all the joys to which their beliefs entitle them.

"); document.writeln("

\"The third is reverently. If this is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in the form of a helpless babe, it is a very important day. It\'s a startling idea of course. My guess is that the whole story—that a virgin was selected by God to bear his Son as a way of showing his love and concern for man—in spite of all the lip service given to it, is not an idea that has been popular with theologians.

"); document.writeln("

\"It\'s a somewhat illogical idea, and theologians like logic almost as much as they like God. It\'s so revolutionary a thought that it probably could only come from a God that is beyond logic and beyond theology.

"); document.writeln("

\"It has a magnificent appeal. Almost nobody has seen God, and almost nobody has any real idea of what he is like. The truth is that among men the idea of seeing God suddenly and standing in a very bright light is not necessarily a completely comforting and appealing idea. But everyone has seen babies and most people like them. If God wanted to be loved as well as feared, he moved correctly. If he wanted to know his people as well as rule them, he moved correctly, for a baby growing up learns all about people. And if God wanted to be intimately a part of man he moved correctly here, too, for the experience of birth and family-hood is our most intimate and precious experience.

"); document.writeln("

\"So it comes beyond logic. It is either all falsehood or it is the truest thing in the world. It is the story of the great innocence of God, the baby. God in the person of man has such a dramatic shock toward the heart, that if it is not true, for Christians nothing is true.\"¹

"); document.writeln("

But how can we know if the Christmas story is true or not? The person of Christ is not in doubt. He was as much a fact of history as were Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare. But was his birth on that first Christmas that of the Son of God who came to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem?

"); document.writeln("

That, of course, is a question each person needs to answer for him/herself. However, for those who sincerely want an answer there is great evidence to verify that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God.

"); document.writeln("

Among the best evidence is the fulfillment of more than 300 biblical prophecies concerning his birth, life, and death that accurately predicted his birth in Bethlehem, his being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and his death by crucifixion.

"); document.writeln("

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the science of probability to just eight of these many prophecies. He states that the chance that any one man might have fulfilled just these eight prophecies would be one in 1016; that is one in 10,000,000,000,000,000, not to mention the chances of fulfilling all 300 prophecies.

"); document.writeln("

Stoner says that if we took this many silver dollars (10 to the 16) and laid them on the face of the state of Texas, they would cover the entire state two feet thick. If one of the coins had a special marking on it and a blindfolded man had to find it, what would his chances be?

"); document.writeln("

My guess is that the whole
"); document.writeln(" story is not an idea that has been
"); document.writeln(" popular with theologians.

"); document.writeln("

Stoner claims that he would have as much chance as the biblical prophets, without God, \"would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man.\"

"); document.writeln("

Christ also confirmed his deity through his many miracles and especially through his resurrection from death. He came to earth specifically to pay the penalty and die for the sins of mankind. In rising from the dead, he not only showed that he was the Son of God, but also conquered sin and death so that all who believe in him would receive the gift of eternal life.

"); document.writeln("

The exciting news about Christmas is that it is not only a reminder of Christ\'s first coming and all he did for us, but also a reminder that he is coming again to take to heaven all who put their trust in him and to do away with all wars, sorrow, and tears forever. Only then will his promise of \"peace on earth\" be fulfilled. Based on his other promises and biblical prophecies already fulfilled, we can be just as certain of Christ\'s second coming as we are of his first.

"); document.writeln("

Exactly when that will be nobody knows for sure.

"); document.writeln("

However, the signs of the time indicate that Christ\'s return could be very near—perhaps just around the corner.

"); document.writeln("

The critical issue is to be ready for his coming. You can be by believing that Christ died on the cross for your sins and by responding to his invitation to receive him into your heart and life as personal Lord and Savior.

"); document.writeln("

"); document.writeln(" Suggested prayer: \"Dear God, thank you for the promise that Jesus will return to earth again for all those who have put their faith and trust in him. Please help me to know for sure that I will be ready when that time comes. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus\' name, amen.\"

"); document.writeln("

For help to make sure you are ready to meet Jesus when he returns (or when you life on earth has ended), be sure to read the article, \"How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

"); document.writeln("

1. Harry Reasoner’s Christmas Address, cited on ... Click Here.

"); document.writeln("
"); document.writeln("