CHAPLAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR 2009
This year I'd to share some of my favorite readings with you.
I have been a fan of The New Christie Minstrels since I first heard them in 1961 on the old Perry
Como TV show. One of their beautiful Christmas songs is "Christmas Wishes", and it goes like this:
If I had my way this Christmas, If all I would wish could be;
Of all the great wishes in a wonderful world, I'd only ask for three.
And if I could have three wishes, And if my first wish came true, There would be peace on earth
good will among men and love in all that we do.
Can you imagine a world like that? What a wonderful world it would be....And then I would wish it
would go on forever for people like you and like me.
If I had my way this Christmas, And if both the others came true; My third wish would be now and
forever to share all my wishes with you.
Isn't this nice???
I contribute money to Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. Their mission is
"Christ's Kingdom. Every Native American Nation". On the front of their 2009 Advent Devotions is
this short prayer written in 1643 by Jean de Brebeuf, "Oh, Children of the forest tree, Oh sons of
Manitou, The Holy Child of heaven and earth is born today for you, Come kneel before the radiant
boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy. Jesus your king is born, Jesus is born; In Excelsis,
Gloria!"
And two anonymous readings:
"HIS FOOTPRINTS...In the beginning only his footprint was there; Then the enemy came and
scattered other footprints everywhere. .. Making it hard to follow His footprints once so plain. But he
returned to show us the way again.
In a manger in Bethlehem He left a footprint for man, On a cross on Calvary He completed
redemption plan,... Leaving a footprint around the nail print driven there. And He left another
footprint in a tomb as He rose to show His care.
His footprints continue across the pages of history; They will proclaim to all who will hear
redemption's story. The footprints now stop and bid entrance at your heart's door. Will you receive
Him into your heart to follow His Footprints for evermore....."
And, "ONE LIFE....He was born in a stable, in an obscure village; From there He traveled less than
200 miles...He never won an election, He never went to college, He never owned a home, He never
had a lot of money. He became a nomadic preacher. Popular opinion turned against Him. He was
betrayed by a close friend, And other friends ran away. He was unjustly condemned to death,
Crucified between two thieves on a hill overlooking the town dump. And when dead, laid in a
borrowed grave. Twenty centuries have come and gone, empires have risen and fallen, mighty
armies have marched and powerful rulers have reigned. Yet no one has affected men as much as
He...He is the central figure of the human race.HE is the Messiah, the Son of God, JESUS
CHRIST."
"He is the image of the unseen God, and the first-born of all Creation, For in Him were created all
things, in heaven and on earth." - Colossians 1:15-16. One of our appointed readings for Advent is
from Isaiah chapter 40 which begins "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, says your God...."
When we search for God's comfort, look to the Holy Scriptures: From Psalm 46:1, "God is our
refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble";
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) Psalm 34:18 reads "The Lord is
close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit"; Isaiah 61:1, "He has sent Me
to bind up the brokenhearted." And from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ ... who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God". And, "Weeping may remain for a
night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).
From our house to your house, a very blessed and glorious Christmas...but beware...."If we focus
only on Christmas, we might lose the sight of CHRIST" .. the true meaning of the day we celebrate
on December 25 each year is CHRIST HAS COME!! CHRIST HAS COME!! Let all the world
rejoice, ALLELUIA!!!!
Amen and Amen.
Rev. Charles "Preacher" Knappenberger, Chaplain, ASA Korea