DISCIPLE

An American parody of Luke 2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from the U.S. Treasury, that all of America should go shopping. 2 (And this decree was  first made when leading economic indicators dipped to their lowest point.) 3 And all went out to shop, each to his own mall. 4 And a Christian also went up from his suburban home to the city with its many malls because he wanted to prove he was from the household of prosperity. 5 And with him was  his wife, who was great with economic worry. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, they found many expensive presents, pudgy-faced dolls, trucks that turn into robots, and a various assortment of video games. 7 And the woman wrote checks for those they could afford and charged the rest on many different kinds of plastic cards; she wrapped the presents in bright paper and laid them in the garage; for there was no room for them in her closet. 8 And there were in the same county childre...

Note: The following is not an actual dream or experience, but simply the use of a story to convey a message. Carl T. Knott, Jr. It was the first morning of the Christmas holidays. My wife and children had just left for some last-minute gift shopping. I sat quietly at my desk addressing Christmas cards while "Silver Bells" played on my stereo. It was then that I heard a knock on the front door. I put down the pen and listened. There it was again. Who could that be? A friend dropping by for a visit? Maybe bringing a gift? The mailman with a holiday package? One of the neighborhood children? I turned down the stereo, walked to the door, and opened it. There He was. He didn't look like the Bible storybook pictures of Him. He was different, yet, somehow I sensed instantly who He was. Maybe it was the look in His eyes. But when I extended my hand to shake His, I was absolutely certain... nail prints! "Lord!" I fell on my face in awe, surprise...

  On a recent visit to London I repeatedly saw buses with advertisements on the side. One said, "The right gift, at the right price." It was publicity for a mobile phone company, which hoped to convince the public to purchase phones as Christmas gifts. However, they overstated their case, as the right gift is certainly not a mobile phone that can be lost, stolen, broken or outdated in a short time.     The right gift is the gift God gives: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This is the right gift because it is a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) which descends from above. God's gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, is the greatest gift that most people have never received. We are told of it over and over in the Scriptures. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlas...

THE CHRISTMAS JESUS CAME   TO MY HOUSE by Carl T. Knott, Jr. illustrations by Emily R. Knott It was the first morning of the Christmas holidays. My wife and children had just left for some last-minute gift shopping. I sat quietly at my desk addressing Christmas cards while "Silver Bells" played on my stereo. It was then that I heard a knock on the front door. I put down the pen and listened. There it was again. Who could that be? A friend dropping by for a visit? Maybe bringing a gift? The mailman with a holiday package? One of the neighborhood children? I turned down the stereo, walked to the door, and opened it. There He was. He didn't look like the Bible storybook pictures of Him. He was different, yet, somehow I sensed instantly who He was. Maybe it was the look in His eyes. But when I extended my hand to shake His, I was absolutely certain... nail prints! "Lord!" I fell on my face in awe, surprise, humiliation, and worship. His hand gentl...