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A Christmas True or False Quiz

Can you separate fact from fiction in the Christmas story? Test your
knowledge by answering "T" or "F" to each statement. "T" would indicate that
the fact can be found in Holy Scripture. "F" would indicate that the fact is
not be found in the Bible.

1) There are no records of Joseph speaking in the Christmas story.

2) The wise men were three kings from the orient.

3) The little drummer boy came to the manger after the other shepherds.

4) The star did not appear above the manger.

5) Jesus' ancestors include a prostitute, an adulterer, a woman who committed
incest, and a non-Israelite.

6) The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first and then he appeared to Joseph.

7) Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

8) Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a decree by Caesar Augustus.

9) The wise men followed the star as it moved from their eastern land to
Israel.

10) The wise men did not arrive on the night of Jesus' birth.

11) God sent a choir of chubby angels to announce Jesus' birth to the
shepherds.

12) Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation.

13) Both Joseph and Mary were told that the baby was to be named "Jesus."

14) When Herod heard about Jesus he was the only one concerned about this new
king.

15) The wise men found Jesus lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem.

16) After the angels announcement the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to
see Jesus.

17) Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel appeared to him.

18) Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe the message they heard
from the angels.



Here are the answers:

1) T There are no records of Joseph speaking in the Christmas story.
I'm sure he said something, but there is absolutely no record of him
speaking at all.

2) F The wise men were three kings from the orient.
The number of wise men is not mentioned. They were not kings.

3) F The little drummer boy came to the manger after the other shepherds.
What little drummer boy? There is no mention of a drummer boy in the
Bible.

4) T The star did not appear above the manger.
It appeared above the house where Joseph's family was living (Matthew
2:9-11).

5) T Jesus' ancestors include a prostitute, an adulterer, a woman who
committed incest, and a non-Israelite.
Rahab was a prostitute, David & Uriah's wife were adulterers, Tamar &
Judah committed incest, and Ruth was from Moab. Matthew 1:3,5,6.

6) F The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary first and then Gabriel appeared
to Joseph.
Trick question. Mary was first, but we don't know the name of the
angel who appeared to Joseph (Matthew 1:20). It might have been Harold. You
know, "Hark the Harold Angel Sings."

7) F Mary rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
A donkey does not appear any where in the Biblical account. She
probably walked.

8) T Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of a decree by Caesar
Augustus.
Yep. Luke 2:1-5.

9) F The wise men followed the star as it moved from their eastern land
to Israel.
Apparently not. The wise men saw the star in the east (Matthew 2:2).
But it did not take them to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they asked for
directions. Once leaving Jerusalem the star appeared again and led them to
the house in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9).

10) T The wise men did not arrive on the night of Jesus' birth.
The wise men arrive sometime after Jesus is born (Matthew 2:1). Jesus
is called a child, rather than a baby (Matthew 2:11). He may have been as
old as two (Matthew 2:7,16).

11) F God sent a choir of chubby angels to announce Jesus' birth to the
shepherds.
Actually God sent an army of warrior angels. See Luke 2:13. "Company"
and "host" are military terms.

12) F Shepherding was considered a very noble occupation.
In first century B.C., shepherding was close to what we would consider
garbage collecting. Shepherds were unable to remain ritually pure according
to Pharisaic laws and so were considered unclean. Yet God chose them for His
birth announcement!

13) T Both Joseph and Mary were told that the baby was to be named
"Jesus."
Yes. See Matthew 1:21 and Luke 1:31. In Judaism, babies were always
named by their father. Here we see God the Father (not Joseph) giving Jesus
his name. By the way, "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Joshua,"
the successor of Moses. (Joshua means "Yahweh saves").

14) F When Herod heard about Jesus he was the only one concerned about
this new king.
All Jerusalem was disturbed by this news of a new king (Matthew 2:3).

15) F The wise men found Jesus lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem.
Jesus was in a house by this time (Matthew 2:11).

16) T After the angels announcement the shepherds went straight to
Bethlehem to see Jesus.
Correct. They were excited! They did not hesitate. They did not stop
at Starbucks, they did not pass "Go" and stop to collect their $200! Luke
2:15-16.

17) T Joseph married Mary immediately after the angel appeared to him.
Yes. His obedience was quick, cheerful and complete. Matthew 1:24.

18) F Some of the shepherds doubted and refused to believe the message
they heard from the angels.
They went to see the baby right away, they spread the word, and they
praised God for what they had been permitted to see and hear. No doubt
there. Luke 2:15-20.


http://www.new-life.net/chrtms01.htm
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And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 2
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The Voice of the Martyrs


SRI LANKA Christians Beaten for their "Loud Worship" - VOM Canada
Reports of attacks on churches continue. On November 12, four members of the Prayer Tower church in Anamaduwa were returning from a funeral service when they were attacked by several men. The Christians were beaten and had stones thrown at them. When the pastor of the church reported the incident to the police, the attackers accused the church of disturbing the neighbors with their loud worship. Pray for healing of the Christians who were attacked and for courage in the face of violence. Luke 4:18


PAKISTAN Christian Couple Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Blasphemy - VOM sources
On November 26, two believers were sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine of 25,000 rupees each for burning the Koran. On October 18, Boota and James Masih, a married couple, were asked to clean a Muslim family's store and burn the garbage when they finished. The two gathered all the garbage in a donkey cart and burned it outside the home. Some Muslim neighbors saw the burning and discovered Koranic papers in the fire. An angry mob gathered and planned to burn Christian homes and churches. Police controlled the mob by arresting James and Boota, even though they are illiterate and did not know the contents of the garbage. Ask the Lord to comfort and protect James and Boota in prison. Psalm 119:49-51


CHINA Church Faces Imminent Destruction of Building - China Aid Association
A house church in Yangjianong Village, Qixian Town, Shaoxing County, has received notification from the local government to vacate the church building before December 4, 2006. Approximately 200 Christians have worshipped at this church since 2001. Recently the local government declared that the church be demolished to make room for a park, but refused to arrange a new location for the church. The church is now filing a lawsuit against the county government to prevent the demolition. However, a document issued by Shaoxing demolition administrative office on November 30 states, "The demolition will not be stopped by the administrative review or the lawsuit." Pray the actions of the government be exposed. Pray believers will know even if the building is destroyed that God's Church is indestructible. Revelation 3:8


BANGLADESH Islamic Extremists Face Death for Killing Christian - Compass Direct
A court in Bangladesh has sentenced two Islamic extremists to death for murdering Dr. Abdul Gani Gomes, a Christian convert from Islam, in September 2004. Gomes, 48, was returning from work in the northern town of Duyanipur in Jamalpur district when four militants, including the two convicted men, jumped him and, in their words, "hacked him to death." Hafez Mahmud and Mohammad Salauddin are leading figures in the banned Islamic militant group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), according to a BBC report. Both men confessed to killing Gomes on the order of JMB leader Shaikh Abdur Rahman. JMB members said they resented Gomes because he had encouraged other Muslims to convert to Christianity. "I am happy that I killed him," Salauddin told reporters as he emerged from the courtroom. Compass sources said Gomes' wife, Shahnaz Parvin, also a Christian convert, was present at the trial. In front of the judges, the killers said they would kill her also if she did not convert back to Islam. Mahmud and Salauddin also threatened Judge Shaheed Noor Uddin, saying their "own" court had already sentenced the judge to death for passing down a guilty verdict. Pray for the Lord's mercy on the murderers and they repent and worship Him. Pray for protection from evil for Gomes' wife Shanhnaz, and Judge Shaheed Noor Uddin. Luke 23:40-4


UZBEKISTAN Court Fines Baptists and Burns Bibles - Forum 18
On October 25, following a raid on a Baptist church in the southern Uzbek town of Karshi, two visiting Baptists were given massive fines (45 times the country's minimum monthly salary) each for participating in unregistered religious worship. Four local church members were given smaller fines. The court ordered Bibles and hymnals confiscated during the raid to be burnt, a regular official practice. Pray for patience and perseverance for these Uzbek Christians. James 1:12
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Buying gifts for men is not nearly as complicated as it is for women. Follow these rules and you should have no problems.

Rule #1: When in doubt - buy him a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I have a friend who owns 17 and he has yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why.

Rule #2: If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. "Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?" "OK. By the way, are you through with my 3/8-inch socket yet?" Again, no one knows why.

Rule #3: If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car, a 99 cent ice scraper, a small bottle of de-icer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why.

Rule #4: Never buy men bathrobes. Once I was told that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, he wouldn't have invented Jockey shorts.

Rule #5: You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money buy your man a big-screen TV with the little picture in the corner. Watch him go wild as he flips, and flips, and flips.

Rule #6: Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after-shave or deodorant. I'm told they do not stink - they are earthy.

Rule #7: Buy men label makers. Almost as good as cordless drills. Within a couple of weeks there will be labels absolutely everywhere. "Socks. Shorts. Cups. saucers. Door. Lock. Sink." You get the idea. No one knows why.

Rule #8: Never buy a man anything that says "some assembly required" on the box. It will ruin his Special Day and he will always have parts left over.

Rule #9: Good places to shop for men include Home Depot, John Deere, Goodyear Tire, and Napa Auto Parts. ANYTHING you buy from these stores is gonna work. It doesn't even matter if he doesn't know what it is. ("From NAPA Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a '68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! thanks.")

Rule #10: Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook - but they will barbecue. Get him a monster barbecue with a 100-pound propane tank. Tell him the gas line leaks. "Oh the thrill! The challenge! Who wants a hamburger?"

Rule #11: Tickets to a Cowboys game are a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to "A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts." Everyone knows why.

Rule #12: Men love chain saws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chain saw. If you don't know why - please refer to Rule #7 and what happens when he gets a label maker.

Rule #13: It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or an aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a stepladder. It must be an extension ladder. No one knows why.

Rule #14: Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least The Boy Scouts. Nothing says love like a hundred feet of 3/8" manila rope.

No one knows why.
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mERRY cHRISTMAS
dR. hOWDY
Hope You always be happy and enjoy this season..

GoD Bless
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