Oh Happy Day!

A Merry Christmas to you all. I know, I know — to many of you, it’s an isolated Christmas. But there are many ways we can still celebrate Christmas without a face-to-face party. Among them some of the many Christmas jokes I’ve been collecting (thanks to all who sent a ton of emails).

I’ve sent my kids their presents and my wife said she got everything she wanted … so at least for now, it’s peace on earth. Need I say more?

Happy Hanukkah! Feliz Navidad! Maligayang Pasko! メリークリスマス
Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël, Vrolijk kerstfeest, Giáng Sinh vui vẻ, Veselé Vánoce, Feliz Natal, Wesolych Swiat,  聖誕快樂, С рождеством!, Superkalifragilistic Expialidocious   — It’s a great day in any language. For unto us a child is born.

Be safe, be healthy, and remember: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Because of Christ, there is hope and wonder. TGIF people!

Raoul

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.“
— Isaiah 9:6 — A prophecy written 740 years before Christ’s birth.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA  for sharing this joke.

Video: Covid Christmas

Thanks to Toti of Manila, Philippines

Video: Santa Interrogation

Thanks to Tony of Los Angeles, CA

Video: Salvation Army Christmas Concert

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA
A classic Christmas music collection

Video: The Little Drummer Boy

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, BC who sent this pun

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.
Funny:

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.
Funny:

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA
Funny:

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

The post Christmas Courtroom appeared first on Traveling Archive.

A New Beginning

I just finished my final class in my Biblical Counseling course. It’s been inked in my Thursday evening schedule for over 3 years. Now I am free to do other things. Strange feeling.  I’m a baby bird kicked out of its comfortable nest to start flying.

I’ve learned about different personality types, the horrors of ungodly relationships, the corruption in the pharmaceutical industry, the unscientific basis of modern psychology, a deeper understanding of God and His creation and how we fit in all this. I do feel inadequate to counsel anyone and I understand that full competency will only evolve with experience.

My wife and I decided to take this course because people, going through struggles, would come to us for help and we felt we needed to be more equipped in order to bless them. I’m not doing this for the money. I’ll do it for free. There’s a confused world looking for fixes. I certainly don’t have all the answers but fixing isn’t my responsibility … speaking God’s truth in love is. Fixing will follow. The glory goes to God never to myself.

Do you know people going through emotional difficulties? I’d love to help. And if the problem is more than I can handle, I can connect them to a team of experienced counselors. Isn’t this why we are called to support one another?

Of course this is just me.

Be safe, be healthy, and remember: We live in a fallen world but we don’t have to live there forever.  TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA  for sharing these jokes.

Video: Christmas Fireworks

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, BC who sent this pun.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Laer of La Habra, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

Thanks to Mel of Washington, DC

The post Airport Closure appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Joy

The other day I was watching my grand kid’s Christmas play. As we waited for the program to start, I noticed an Asian kid, a Hispanic kid and a Caucasian kid chatting away excitedly. They were the best of friends. I realized how blessed we (who live in the free world) really are. Nobody else seemed to appreciate this triad but I certainly did. Sometimes we take our blessings for granted.

It’s been so long since we were as carefree as these three kids. Most of the time we worry about things we have no control over anyway. Did you know that Christ told us not to worry? He told us to have faith like a little child.

Matthew 6: 31-34
³¹ “So do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?’ ³² (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. ³³ Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. ³⁴ So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.”

I guess it’s easy to preach a worry-free life until disaster hits you. On my way to a business meeting this morning, I saw a bunch of flowers and candles along the road near my neighborhood. When you see this strange street flower arrangement, you know that someone had just died in that spot. I don’t know why but I immediately thought of Danny, an old man who biked all around my neighborhood every day. When I got to the meeting, I was told that it was indeed Danny who was run over. Danny waved to everyone who he passed by and was a beloved fixture in the city. There was no foul play. Danny was jaywalking.

Last Friday, a husband and father of 3 young kids fell off a building. The family is still in shock. And just a few minutes ago, someone told me a friend is breathing on life support and it has been announced that the family will be pulling the plug soon.

Indeed there may be no joy this Christmas for quite a few people. I don’t want us to be all gloomy but this is just a reminder that others are going through a lot. Let’s grieve with them. Let’s pray for them. Let’s remind them that even during the first Christmas, it was the worst of times for many people and yet a child was born in a dirty manger to rescue us all.

TGIF people! Christmas is just around the corner. A blessed Christmas to you all. Happy Hanukkah.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Funny Video

A Christmas Moose Tale

Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

So silly it’s funny. Especially the outtakes.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared these:

Thanks to Dean of Vancouver, B.C. who shared this:

The post Grown Up Christmas Wish appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The Little Drummer Boy

I don’t know about you but I enjoy being bombarded by Christmas carols everywhere I go.  These tunes bring back very happy memories of childhood. One of my favorites is the song of The Little Drummer Boy. Like many other songs I fell in love with the melody first. I never really understood what the story was about until I read an article of a puppeteer in an old McCalls magazine (remember them?). I became fascinated by marionettes (not hand puppets but string puppets) and I researched how to make them. I was only in my elementary years so carving wooden puppets was beyond my pay grade. I was further inspired by the puppetry in the classic movie The Sound of Music (ie. The Lonely Goatherd). I did try to make a wooden one but was frustrated because I had no sculpting tools. Then I found a book that showed me how to make marionettes out of cloth … essentially, they were rag dolls turned into puppets. I begged my Mom to teach me how to sew and by summer time I became an expert sewer. I popped out the heads of my GI Joe action figure and the heads of my sister’s Barbie dolls to have more realistic faces. I collected carton boxes and converted them into backdrops.  I produced, set designed, light designed and directed my siblings to my first puppet show. My most ambitious show was the Broadway musical Camelot — where we played the movie recording and acted out the different songs in the movie. To this day, the craft is still in me because I still know how to sew and build these puppets. Indeed, every “pum pa rum pum” channels my thoughts to Christmas with my siblings and puppets.

Thanks to Katherine Davis who wrote that song in 1941. Thanks to the woman puppeteer in McCalls who inspired my love for the performing arts. And thanks to my family who put up with me and gave me a wonderful Christmas childhood.

Where does your imagination bring you when you hear Christmas Carols? Tell me your story. I’d love to hear it.

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Rodney’s Puns

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Funny Video

Christmas Parrot

Sent by Mike of New York

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this:

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this:

The post Ancient Christmas Manuscript appeared first on Traveling Archive.