Christmas is Christ


Why do we celebrate Christmas every year? If you go to many people today, they will give
you many reasons. And usually, it has something to do with loving your fellow man and
giving to those you love, or those in need. They may also say it's about families getting
together and celebrating their care for one another while sharing meaningful traditions.
Here are a few quotations from some people of the past who have attempted to articulate
the reason for the Christmas season. They include: "Let us remember that the Christmas
heart is a giving heart, a wide-open heart that thinks of others first." George Matthew
Adams. "Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving,
and of families united." Norman Vincent Peale. "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but
a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real
spirit of Christmas." Calvin Coolidge. "Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate
it by giving the light of love to those who need it most." Ruth Carter Stapleton.


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But just what is the true meaning of Christmas? Christmas is not about our feelings. It's not
about families getting together, giving gifts to one another, loving our fellow man, or any
of the other traditions that have evolved around the Christmas holiday. Although there is
nothing wrong with most of these things it is not a celebration of them. And it's not about
things that we can give, either to God or our fellow man. It is rather about a gift of God that
has already been given to the world. That gift is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
being born on this earth to save us from sin, death, and hell. And without the Christ of
Christmas, there would be no reason for celebration. Of the 4 Gospel records that tell us
about Jesus and his mission to this earth, the gospel of John is probably the most
straightforward about telling us about the true identity of the person whose birth we
celebrate every 25th of December, as well as the meaning behind his coming to earth.


Let's take a look at the first 14 verses of John 1 and see what they reveal about our Savior.
But first, it might be helpful to find out from John the reason that he wrote his epistle.
For this is the key to completely understanding the whole book, including these verses we
are studying today. And it is what makes the Christmas celebration so meaningful to this
world and to us who accept God's gift of a Savior. I. Theme of John's Gospel; Jesus is the
Christ and God in the Flesh (John 20:30-31) We find in the later part of John's gospel, or
good news, the reason for his writing. It was to introduce those who read his words, to
Jesus Christ and tell them who he was and still is today. He is, indeed, both the long-
awaited Messiah of Israel, or the Christ, and God in the flesh. And also, John wanted to
tell them what Jesus did. Further, all of this was with the sole aim of leading the reader to
embrace the saving work of Christ in faith. We can find John's summary of his book in John
20:30-31. It tells us: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name."


With that in mind, it makes a lot of sense that John goes all the way back to the beginning
of creation, mimicking the book of Genesis, and tells us that Jesus was already there. And
not only that but he was the instigator of all which has been created. John uses a term for
our Savior that would have been understood by both Jews and Gentiles alike when
introducing the eternal Son of God. He calls Him 'The Word'. II. Jesus as the Eternal Word
of God (1:1-2). In John 1:1-2, the apostle John tells us very plainly and without hesitation:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The
same was in the beginning with God." The Greek term translated “Word” in this passage
is Logos, and it was common in both Greek philosophy and Jewish thought of that day. In
the Old Testament, the Word of God was often personified as an instrument to do God's
will. The phrase 'The Word of God' actually occurs over 1,200 times in the Old Testament
Scriptures alone. In the creation God spoke and everything came into existence. The
psalmist tells us in Psalm 33:6 that: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made;
and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”


This is just one of many verses in the Old Testament that shows the power of the Word of
God. When John's Jewish readers would see logos in this passage, it would point them back
to the many times that the Scriptures demonstrated and spoke of this power. And they
would be told by John that this powerful Word was a person, the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
To the Greeks, the logos meant something different. In Greek philosophy, the logos or the
'word' described the intermediate agency by which God created material things and
communicated with them. To the Greeks, the logos was seen as a bridge between the God
who transcended or was beyond all creation, and the material universe. So, when the
Greeks found out that Jesus was the logos they would have immediately thought of him
as one who could bridge the gap between the immaterial God and the material world.
He would become the mediating principle between the two.


However, John went much farther than both the Jews and the Greeks could ever conceive.
Jesus Christ was not just a mere mediating principle like the Greeks perceived, but was
a personal being, fully divine, yet fully human. And to the Jews, Jesus was not just some
personification of God's revelation to mankind. He was, rather, God's perfect revelation
of himself in the flesh. John is using the familiar term logos to introduce all of his readers
to Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, fully God and yet fully man, who came to reveal
God to man and redeem all who believe in Him from their sin. III. Jesus as the Creator and
the Source of Life and Light (4-5) . John continues with the fact that Jesus was in the
beginning by saying that He was not only there but that "all things were made by him
which are in existence (3). The apostle goes on to point out that Jesus is 'life'. This word,
life, is used 36 times in this book. Here it seems to have a dual meaning. He is the creator
of all physical life, but he is also the one who gives life to those who are dead
spiritually in trespasses and sins.


Jesus, as the life, is also the light of men. Light shows Jesus as the one who points anyone
who follows him to the revelation of the true God. Darkness is the absence of light—the
lack of God. It represents the power of evil, sin, and unbelief in this world, all of which lead
to eternal death. Jesus came into this dark sinful world and it, for the most part, did not
comprehend what it had. Most remained in darkness. The same is true even today (5).
Most of the people who celebrate Christmas today have lost all the meaning behind why
we have this time of rejoicing. IV. Jesus as the One Who Gives the Power of Sonship to
All Who Accept Him (6-13). The apostle John continues his theme of Jesus' being the
light of the world by telling us of the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist. He goes out
of his way to show that John is not the light himself but the one who points the world
toward the light. Jesus is said to be the true light that lights every man that comes into
the world. This shows that God intended for Jesus to be universally available to all
mankind. The Lord intended to save the world from the very beginning, before
creation ever was accomplished.


Yet Jesus came to that world that was made by him and they rejected him. He came
specifically unto his own people the Jews at first, but they rejected him too (10,11).
God had intended to bless the world through the seed of Abraham, the people of Israel.
He promised Abraham this because of his faith. However, the nation as a whole rejected
their Messiah. However, there were some who didn't reject him. God always has his
remnant who will receive him by faith and believe in what he has to offer them. It is to
them that Jesus gave the power to become the sons of the living God. They were
spiritually born again by the grace and power of God. This wasn't anything like a
physical birth. It had nothing to do with man at all. It was solely by God's will and might.
When we celebrate Christmas, it means that we are celebrating the fact that Jesus
through his entrance into this world, his death on the cross, and his resurrection,
has taken sinners on their way to a Christless eternity in Hell, and has made us forever,
his children with all of the privileges that go along with being the offspring of the
eternal God of the universe. V. Jesus as the Word Become Flesh (14).


Christmas Bird Count turns 125. The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an annual census of
birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed by volunteer birdwatchers and administered
by the National Audubon Society. It was initiated in 1900 as a way to promote conservation
by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day. The CBC takes place annually
from December 14 to January 5, with more than 30,000 people worldwide counting over
2,400 species. Last year's 114th Christmas Bird Count set a record high with 2,408 circle
counts submitted to the database. In the 122nd Christmas Bird Count, a total of 42,876,395
birds of all species were tallied. We hope that this year the number of birds contacted
will exceed that of the previous year.


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At least ten volunteers, including a compiler to manage things, count in each circle. They
break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to
year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders
instead of following routes. And so birds like this count. The bird stays in flocks during
their migration and foraging. By flapping its wings, the bohemian waxwing often hovers
from one perch to another, rarely walking on the ground. It takes a bath in gathered water
due to rain and scratches its head by keeping its foot on its extended wings. Male
waxwings are protective about their mates and often threaten other males who are
trying to snatch their mates. Winter is the season when two potential mates meet each
other and through a brief period of courtship.


It’s 5:15 on a snowy December morning. It’s dark, and very cold, but you can hear the soft
hoo-hoo-ing of owls. Then, you see it glide across the starry sky and perch in a tree in front
of you: the snow-dusted silhouette of a screech owl. It sounds like a scene only Hallmark
holiday magic could pull off, and yet, this is the lived experience of Jay Manning, assistant
director of conservation at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, when he goes owling on the morning
of the Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Manning, besides working at the Norman Bird
Sanctuary and leading the organization’s Sunday morning guided bird walks, is also a
section leader within a census circle of the Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count.


The early winter bird populations of North America. Each annual regional count is to occur
on a day from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 of the Christmas season, which ensures reasonable
consistency among populations of resident, rather than migratory, birds. Although
founded in the U.S., Canada is an active participant. In fact, for 1999 the three communities
with the most participants in North America were North Bay, Edmonton, and Victoria!
Starting with this year's count, all Canadian results will be co-ordinated by Bird Studies
Canada before being forwarded to the Audubon people. The Christmas Bird Count is
an opportunity for Whistler to make a worthwhile contribution to ornithological science.


The Waterville CBC on December 17 produced a fine total of 60 species, well above the
average. There was plenty of open water, so waterfowl put on a good show. Ten species
were found including record highs for Canada Goose (361) and Buffleheads (28). The
rarest were pairs of Greater Scaup and American Wigeon. The eight Common Loons
were also a record high count. The Bunker Hill CBC yielded a fine total of 62 species.
Thirteen species of waterfowl were present, including 334 Canada Geese (an all-time
high count), a Northern Pintail and all three of our diving ducks in the genus Aythya: 11
Ring-necked Ducks, 29 Greater Scaup and one Lesser Scaup. Lingering birds including
two Turkey Vultures, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Belted Kingfisher. The only
alcids were a pair of Dovekies. A great find!


Volunteers set out in their defined locations and count every bird that they see. “For a party
that might be hiking through a local park, they’re basically just going to tally every bird that
they see by species,”. When they’re done, they turn in their tally to the count leader, who
totals the birds. Every bird counted contributes to a growing body of research on birds
across the country. Other census efforts include tracking backyard birds through Feeder
Watch from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a new five-year project called the
Pennsylvania Bird Atlas checks on the population and distribution of birds in the
state, run by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Together, these efforts provide
a glimpse of the state of the birds.


The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running citizen science
projects in existence- it was started on Christmas Day in 1900 and is still going strong.
Incredibly, nearly every existing Christmas Bird Count in these areas were conducted
during the 118th Christmas Bird Count – mere weeks after the catastrophic effects of all
these events. Counters in California slogged through burned habitats searching for birds;
birders in Texas put down their chain saws and shovels and went out and counted birds;
participants in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands put their recovery efforts on hold (even
in the face of no electricity) and searched the wind-stripped forests in the hopes of
finding some of their avian neighbors. It can’t be over-stated how important these
efforts were in this first season following all these disasters. Our understanding of how
habitats and birds recover – and how humans recover – in the face of such events
depends upon regular monitoring, as the Christmas Bird Count has done for 118 years.


Birds Canada (formerly Bird Studies Canada) is Canada's national bird conservation
organization. Birds Canada began as the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1960, changing
its name in 1998 to reflect the growing national scope of its research programs. The name
was changed again in 2019 to Birds Canada. Its mission is to advance the understanding,
appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitats through studies that engage
the skills, enthusiasm and support of volunteers, members, staff and the interested public.
Birds Canada conducts a wide range of local, regional, national and international programs,
dependent upon the active involvement of thousands of volunteers dubbed "Citizen
Scientists", guided by a small group of professional scientists. Its national headquarters
are located near Port Rowan and Long Point, Ontario, Canada.


The psychology of love: 10 groundbreaking insights into the science of relationships. Don't
miss out! Follow PsyPost on Bluesky! In the quest to understand the complex dynamics of
love and relationships, recent scientific inquiries have unveiled fascinating insights into how
our connections with others shape our mental health, preferences, and overall happiness.
From the profound impact of romantic relationships on psychological well-being to the
evolutionary roots of love, these studies offer a comprehensive look into the forces driving
our closest bonds. This article delves into the latest research findings, shedding light
on the science behind love, attraction, and the deep psychological interplay at the heart
of human relationships.


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Fragrance is a word that means a sweet or pleasant odor. It is often added to products to
make them smell better or to create a certain impression. Fragrance can come from natural
sources, such as flowers, or from synthetic ones, such as chemicals. Fragrance is also a
synonym for perfume, scent, or redolence. As you can probably guess, fragrance is added
to products to make them smell better. Sometimes it’s to add a sense of luxury or
personality. Sometimes they’re used to create a more “natural” aroma. And sometimes
they’re used to cover up an offending odor. Always a nice gift for a woman, which you will
have in the future.


Things women only do with the men they love. There is only one happiness in this life, to
love and be loved.” — George Sand. Love is a very strong emotion. It can make you feel
happy, sad, angry, and everything in between. When you are in love, you can’t help but
feel strongly about the person you are with. You may feel happy when they are around,
or sad when they are not. You may feel angry when they do something that hurts you,
or you may feel nothing at all. Love is a very complex emotion and it can be hard to
understand, but one thing is for sure: when you are in love, you will feel it deeply. There
are many different ways to show someone you love them. You may shower them with
gifts, or simply spend time with them. You may do things for them that you wouldn’t
normally do, or go out of your way to make them feel great about themselves.


Things Women Do When They Genuinely Love You (Backed By Psychology). There’s
something profoundly moving about being genuinely loved by a woman. It’s an all-
encompassing feeling that can transform your world. But understanding women, their
emotions, and their gestures of love can often feel like trying to decode a complex language.
That’s why “Things Women Do When They Genuinely Love You (Backed by Psychology)” is
here to guide you through the labyrinth of emotions, actions, and signs that indicate a
woman’s genuine love. In the realm of love advice and relationship advice, there’s a lot of
chatter. But when it comes to understanding the things women do when they like you, or
better yet, love you, it’s crucial to have insights that are backed by science, informed by
psychology, and resonant with human experience.


How can you tell if someone truly loves you? Is there a specific way they look at you, or is
it all about the physical connection? Love is about so much more than speaking those
famous words, as it requires action behind it. When you’re in love, many changes take
place in your body. According to Science Alert, love causes a firestorm of your
neurochemicals, like oxytocin and dopamine. Your brain becomes flooded with pleasure
when these reward centers are stroked. You will find that you have a stronger desire for
intimacy, less likely to perceive pain, and your dependence on this person becomes an
addiction. When you find someone who makes you feel all these sensations, you’ll climb
any mountain and swim any sea to see this person happy and content.


Pure love encompasses trust, vulnerability, and emotional connection. It goes beyond the
surface and requires a profound understanding of one another. Women have distinct ways
of expressing love, and these gestures are often reserved for their chosen partners. Here
are the things women only do with men they love, according to psychology: 1. Share
personal secrets. When a woman is in love, she opens up and shares her deepest secrets
and vulnerabilities with her partner. 2. Seek emotional support. In times of distress or
emotional turmoil, a woman turns to her partner for solace and reassurance. 3. Engage in
deep conversations. When a woman is in love, she yearns for intellectual connection. She
engages in deep conversations that go beyond surface-level chitchat. 4. Show physical


Christmas flowers are the popular flowers used during the festive season of Christmas.
In many nations, seasonal flowers and plants such as Poinsettia, Christmas cactus, holly,
Christmas rose, ivy and mistletoe form a major part of traditional Christmas decoration.
The ancient Aztecs (ruling tribe in central Mexico at the time of contact with Europe) prized
the poinsettia as a symbol of purity. Centuries later, Mexico's early Christians adopted
the poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. The Mexican poinsettia, known as the
Christmas Flower in North America, is used in most Christmas decorations, owing to its
bright red color and its blooming season coinciding with the Christmas holiday season.
However, florist dye them in common colors or even add shimmers to make them
much more visually engaging during Christmas.


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One plant called Christmas rose is regarded as a true Christmas flower in certain parts of
the world. Christmas rose (Serissa) is also known as the "snow rose" or "winter rose".
Originally from tropical regions of Asia, cultivated Serissa often blooms during the winter.
On the occasion of Christmas Eve, it is traditional for young women in North America to
exchange specially designed Christmas roses resembling their spirit of fraternity. 1.
Amaryllis Amaryllis is a popular Christmas bloom. 2. Poinsettia There’s no Christmas
plant more iconic than the Poinsettia. 3. Azalea Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron
family and are popular houseplants at Christmas, perfect for staving off the winter chill.
4. Cymbidium Orchids. 5. Red Roses. 6. Christmas Foliages


Amaryllis symbolizes strength, beauty, pride, and love, often representing resilience and
determination due to its ability to bloom in the winter months. Amaryllis is a captivating
flowering plant known for its large, striking, trumpet-shaped blooms. Whether it was a
gift or you purchased the bulb yourself, amaryllis care is crucial to enjoying those huge,
exotic blooms. The amaryllis flower is the highlight of the plant, although the tall stalks
and strappy leaves are a joy to behold, too. A common holiday gift, the amaryllis plant is
native to South America. Unlike many of our common bulb types, they don't require
chilling! They do, however, need a period of cool in order to flower. They live in parts of
the Andes and Brazil in tropical to subtropical regions. Learn how to care for amaryllis
plants and you could enjoy this bulb’s gorgeous flowers for years.


Two very distinct plants – poinsettias and mistletoe – have gained popularity as holiday
decorations. Because of its vivid red, pink, and white hues, the poinsettia, one of the
most popular winter holiday plants, is a decorator's dream. Since the early 19th century,
they have made the holidays more cheerful, according to the Library of Congress. And
for holiday lovers hoping to share a kiss beneath its branches, mistletoe has been seen
as a mythical plant. It is associated with fertility, life, power and tranquility, according to
History.com. This iconic plant has become a holiday season must-have. It's like nature’s
way of shouting, “Hey, Christmas is here!”


Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron family and are popular houseplants at Christmas,
perfect for staving off the winter chill. Their beautiful, full blooms are lovely for brightening
up your home, with red and white the most popular colours during the festive season. You
can often find potted blooming azaleas for sale around the December holidays. These are
evergreen azaleas, usually hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants
are most likely to thrive at a location. These azaleas have been grown in a greenhouse
and forced into bloom at the desired time of year. Azalea care indoors: place the potted
azalea in a bright position but out of direct sun. Make sure its potting mix stays moist
but not soggy. Check it regularly by pushing your finger about an inch deep into the mix. If
that top layer feels dry, it is time to water.


Cymbidium /sɪmˈbɪdiəm/, commonly known as boat orchids, is a genus of evergreen
flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic,
lithophytic, terrestrial or rarely leafless saprophytic herbs usually with pseudobulbs.
There are usually between three and twelve leaves arranged in two ranks on each
pseudobulb or shoot and lasting for several years. From one to a large number of flowers
are arranged on an unbranched flowering stem arising from the base of the pseudobulb.
The sepals and petals are all free from and similar to each other. The labellum is
significantly different from the other petals and the sepals and has three lobes. There are
about fifty-five species and sixteen further natural hybrids occurring in the wild from
tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia.


You wonder which red rose is the perfect choice? With so many splendid options in every
shade, size and fragrance, the options can be overwhelmed! Red roses are the epitome
of romance. If you’d like to add this iconic symbol of love, it’s important to do your research
before picking a type of rose to grow. Whether you’re looking for a deep, gothic red, fire-
engine red, or sweet cerise, there is likely a red rose to suit your palette. There is an
abundance of different rose species and varieties to choose from. In fact, you can find over
150 species, and a whopping 30,000 different varieties of roses worldwide. With the iconic
red rose being one of the most popular, it’s hard to pick a favorite.


Christmas foliage ideas are at the heart of seasonal decorating. Festooning homes with
evergreen branches is an age-old tradition and timelessly elegant, but is also becoming
increasingly popular as we look to decorate sustainably and reconnect with nature. The
beauty of decorating with Christmas foliage is that it is hugely versatile. Lush greenery
made up into garlands, wreaths and centerpieces can be used anywhere around the home
and can be embellished with flowers and decorations to create all sorts of looks. From
entryways to living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, there's no space that won't look better
with a touch of festive foliage. Use abundantly and keep unadorned for a beautifully
rustic look, alternatively add, berries, dried fruit, and pine cones for a traditional feel.