In 1902, a huge volcano erupted and killed the 30,000 inhabitants of St. Pierre, Martinique. Only one man survived-a condemned prisoner, convicted of murder, who was protected because of the sturdiness of his prison cell. He witnessed the whole calamity and was blinded by the volcanic ash. Government officials evidently thought he had been punished enough and pardoned him. He was so moved by his second chance that he became a Christian missionary.

In his famous autobiography, Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton wrote of the death of Christ and used three little prases: He was sacrificed for us, by us and with us. We understand that it was for us. We never held a hammer or drove a nail, but we know it was by us. Time means nothing to God. Jesus could die because of our sins before we're even born. The Bible says that when we sin, we do it all over again; we "crucify Him afresh." What does it mean that He was sacrificed with us? The apostle Paul understood it. He said that by the cross "the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world."

A little, rich kid walked up to the Santa Claus at the local mall and asked, "So, what can I do for you?" It is hard to say what he could have done for Santa, but we know Christmas isn't so much about what we can do for Christ, although giving in His name is a beautiful thing to do. It is primarily about what He has done for us.

Secularism and commercialism have tried to silence Jesus at Christmas-or at least shove Him into a corner. Schoolchildren have a Christmas break, but aren't allowed to acknowledge why or even call it a Christmas break. A woman in a store picked up a Christmas-themed religious recording and said, "I can't believe it-the Christians are trying to horn in on Christmas now." I would not for a moment try to take away from your celebration Santa Claus, Scrooge, the Grinch, Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life. Still, we must remember it is His day.

The anniversary of the first moon landing has reminded us of some interesting details. What was the first food and drink consumed on the moon? It was the elements of the Lord's Supper. Buzz Aldrin reports that the pastor of Webster Presbyterian Church in Houston presented him with a portable communion kit that included a bit of unleavened bread, a small container of wine, and a small chalice. Aldrin partook shortly after the landing. The church still uses a replica of the cup that went to the moon.

According to Ripley's Believe it or Not, the oldest known bird was called the Archaeopteryx. According to scientists, this ancient bird was so clumsy it could not control its own flight. It simply flew into the air and went wherever the wind blew it. Many Christians are that way. They have no sense of direction and purpose. Because...

?It happened in the 1840s in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy was desperate. They were fending off the navy of an aggressive force from Argentina. They ran out of conventional ammunition and thought their cause was lost.

family asked a preacher to come to their home for dinner after church. The child of that family was quite precocious. To encourage conversation the mother asked the little girl how she liked the service.

?Recently, Dennis the Menace's mother had to put Dennis in time out for something that happened at school. His mother said, "Your teacher says you don't listen, Dennis."

?While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, a police officer was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old.