#the Christmas story

[penspagesandpulses]

Go watch Journey to Bethlehem, here's why

These days, it feels like every movie that is released is unwatchable by anyone who seeks out good, clean, uplifting entertainment. These movies attack family values. Characters swear worse than any sailor I’ve ever met. The production companies look to the alphabet soup of “gender identities” when deciding which characters to include. Any man in a movie is either a weak punching bag or a…

[wordingg]

Chapters: 8/8 Fandom: Batman (Comics), Batman - All Media Types, DCU, DCU (Animated) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jokester vs. Batman, Jokester vs. Joker, Jokester & Robin, Batman & Jokester Characters: Jokester, Batman, Robin (DCU), Dick Grayson, Joker (DCU), Alfred Pennyworth Additional Tags: Earth-3, Mirror Universe, Mirror Universe Crossover, Humor, Mistaken Identity, Heroes, Arch-Nemesis, Improvised weapons, Misunderstandings, Explosions, Child Briefly In Danger, Snark, Team Up, Batmobile, Clowns, Defenestration solves all problems, Dynamic Duo, Optimism, Class Issues, getting shot is not good, the Batcave was decorated by a hyperorganized eight-year-old wasn't it?, Christmas Presents, The Buttlemeister, scentless baby penguin, irrepressible urge to quote Victor Hugo Series: Part 1 of Sideshows Triumphant Summary:

The Jokester has gotten used to his face not being the most reassuring sight in the world, what with the scars, but everyone he meets all of a sudden acting like they think he's some kind of puppy-kicking monster, that's...new.

It's almost a relief when Owlman shows up. The black outfit is also new, but at least here's someone who's supposed to hate him.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

The Christmas Story

[housederiva]

My housemate's cat came into my room while my dictation was on...

(here's the fic btw)

[spyboy2000]

ᴇᴢʀᴀ ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴋᴇᴀᴛs Artwork from his 1962 book The Snowy Day.

[faithlovehope]

Remember, my Brothers and Sisters: the triumphant ending of the Christmas Story is the hope-filled beginning of everything else!!

[sunflowergardens-world]

"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." -Luke 2:8-14

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!"

[liberty1776]

Tom NT Wright on the birth of Jesus: Fact or Fiction?

It is all fact of course!

[ailelie]

What I love about the Christmas story and what I wish more people within my faith really internalized is that Jesus came to earth as a baby.

Jesus, the one whose coming is super hyped in the Bible and who is meant to save everyone, came to earth as a baby.

Not a warrior. Not a powerhouse.

Babies are vulnerable and needy. They dirty their diapers. They cry all the time because they don't yet have another way to communicate with the world. They're so easy to break.

And that's how God came to earth.

He purposefully chose to be weak.

This wasn't a power move. It was an act of faith. In us.

"For God so loved the world, he sent his only begotten Son."

Love requires trust. God loved us, so God trusted us.

My hermeneutic for the Bible is love. And this is one of the ultimate acts in the Bible, in my opinion. To make yourself vulnerable, to take a wild leap into the unknown, and to trust that you will not fall.

God trusted us to catch him.

And how does that one verse go? As you've done to the least of these, so, too, you've done to me?

Perhaps showing kindness, mercy, and generosity toward others are just things we should do because it is righteous or that rot, but rather because these acts are our way of continuing to show up for God. Our way of saying to God that He doesn't need to work constant miracles because He's not alone.

Love should be mutual.

[61below]

Massacre of the Innocents - Léon Cogniet

One of the things that I didn’t grasp as a child was just how dangerous is was for Mary to have to travel that close to her due date (even if she did have a donkey. Actually? Especially. Riding that late in term is RISKY!) And then they had to flee from their own government’s purge and live as refugees in a foreign land for years.

Recentering Christ in Christmas

(original post on my Instagram)

"Keep Christ in Christmas" is often lauded by reactionaries in their crusade in the so-called culture war. There is a fear amongst them that Jesus Christ can somehow be removed from the very essence of Christmas. And that the only way to "protect" Jesus is for the mainstream culture to be blatantly Christian and the corporate world to sell us a specifically religious Christmas.

Christians should not be concerned with such worldly matters. Capitalism and its systemic nature of greed, consumption, and waste should not be the center of our Christmas.

We should have no desire to align Jesus Christ with the worldly powers of capital. Rather, this is an encouragement for centering religious practice and embodiment.

It has become profoundly clear that more people are becoming disillusioned by capitalism. There has been a long critique of the festive consumerism that has been a part of Christmas for hundreds of years... and has only gotten more extreme in the past century. So consider this an invitation into the spiritual root of Christmas.

Let us talk about the birth of Jesus Christ. More specifically, recognizing the Christ that is all around us.

Christmas is not a story without suffering. Christmas is a story surrounded by darkness and despair.

The world Jesus was born into was far from ideal, both historically and mythologically. Christ was born from an unwed mother who was forcibly displaced along with her fiancé. The people of this land were living under the Roman occupation and were coerced into obeying the laws of this empire.

After being born, Christ was placed into a lowly manger, since the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were only able to take shelter along with the animals.

This is where God chose to be born.

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as literally being the poor, the foreigner, the infirm, the prisoner, and the hungry. It is clear why Christ was born in that manger in destitution, and not amongst the wealthy who were happily aligned with the state.

The Logos (the pre-existent Jesus Christ) was intentional in where They would manifest themselves in this world.

When upon approaching the liturgical calendar, it is important to note that Advent and then Christmas mark the cycle of rebirth of Jesus Christ. For Christ is not born just once, but again and again perpetually.

This Advent and Christmas, I encourage you to look around you and seek out the Christ child (He is closer, and more relevant, than you might expect). Meditate on the True Peace that comes from Liberation and allow that Peace to be your guide. And find time to rest in the Hope of God's promise to us: we belong to Love.

[obsessivegirlblog]

Advent 2023 - Carefully Investigated (December 7)

Matthew was evidence for the Jews. Mark was an action-packed presentation for the Romans. John is a relational tale for new believers and searching non-believers. Luke is evidence for the Gentiles–those of us who love God and are not Jews. Luke, a doctor, carefully investigated the life of Jesus so we can be certain of the truth we are taught. I’ve celebrated 30 Christmas seasons I’ve been in…

[its-a-crazy-world-aintit]

Music Analysis Time!

It is Christmas Time!

Which means Christmas music! It is after thanksgiving so I pull out my Christmas playlist since most of my favorites are not regularly played on the radio. As an adult I get a much later start on the Christmas music than I did in high school since I am no longer in chorus, community choir, the local youth choral, and my church's living christmas tree. Even with my work starting on November 1st.

ANYWAY, I'm listening to one of my favorites, "What Child Is This" by Jars of Clay and SHEL.

Its a slightly haunting classic carol, that I have sung since I was a small child. Most modern renditions tend to speed it up or give it more of a jazz feel but Jars of Clay and SHEL lean into the eeriness. AND THEN add to it by adding the Coventry Carol in after the second verse!!

For those not familiar the Coventry Carol is from a medieval pageant that became popular as a Christmas carol. It is about the Massacre of Innocents when King Herod slaughtered all the boys under 2 in Bethlehem. It is a lullaby sung by the mothers of the children who will be slain.

Even in a church setting today, the Massacre of Innocents is not often discussed much and the song rarely performed. I have been in numerous Christmas productions and never learned the whole song.

Adding the Coventry Carol, even by subtly humming the lullaby, to What Child Is This is heavy. The placement of it only enhances it.

In the Christmas story, when the wise men come to see Jesus, they first go to Herod, looking for the one "who has been born King of the Jews". Since Herod was king at the time this didn't exactly go over well. After talking with the priests and scribes Herod sends them to Bethlehem based on what Prophets had said and asks them to come back and tell him where the child is "so that I too can go and worship him." The wise men are warned by an dream after meeting Jesus not to return to Herod. Shortly after this an angel warns Joseph to flee to Egypt as Herod wants to kill Jesus. When the wise men don't return, Herod orders "all male children in and around Bethlehem" to be killed.

Putting the lullaby after the verse about the gifts brought by the wise men and after:

Raise, raise a song on high His mother sings her lullaby

is not incidental and makes the carol even more haunting. It is a wonderful way to remind those who know the story and to point to prophecies about the Messiah being fulfilled.

My christmas playlist if anyone wants to hear some things not always played on the radio:

[professorcalculusstanaccount]

"He's behind you!"

This festive season, Archibald Haddock has partnered with Narwhal Theatre to bring over a beloved British holiday tradition - the pantomime! Expect ridiculous antics, magic, high camp and of course, live musical numbers. This year, Cinderella, played by Martine Vanderzande, will be rushing off to the hottest event of the decade - the Royal Ball! The Fairy Godmother shall be played by the stunning Bianca Castafiore. Book your tickets now, and hurry before the strike of midnight!

After returning from a disastrous stay in China, Tintin wonders if he has finally bitten off more than he can chew. In an effort to save a struggling theatre, Haddock and Ramo Nash have produced a panto of Cinderella to raise funds. Tintin accepts the offer to be stage manager, hoping that staying busy during the holiday would keep his mind off the heartbreak from Chang's family drama back in Shanghai.

Not only has he underestimated how difficult stage management is, he has to deal with friction between the cast members, his own relationship issues with Chang, and a mounting pile of violent threats from far right groups who are deeply offended with the production...

The show must go on!

Haddock wrote the script, and Ramo Nash is overseeing set, prop and costume designs. Casting Chang as Prince Charming and Martine as Cinderella was an easy choice for Haddock - as Chang and Martine used to go dancing all the time, they've become excellent dance partners. Martine could also really do with the extra income, as the museum is closed for a part of the holiday.

Filling the other roles was more challenging. Haddock reluctantly casts Castafiore as he hopes her star power will draw crowds. Nobody auditioned for the role of the evil stepmother, other than irritating insurance salesman Jolyon Wagg. Surprisingly to Haddock, Wagg is a powerful presence on stage, being very capable of camping it up for the audience. Ignorant to Haddock's seething hatred of him, Wagg wants to do this to entertain his large family!

After receiving death threats from local fascists, the actors playing the ugly stepsisters drop out, fearing for their own safety. The Thompsons are sent in to monitor the situation, deciding the best course of action is to play a part in the pantomime themselves.

Calculus and a couple of trainees are brought on as stage technicians, joining Tintin backstage. Tintin finds it difficult watching Chang dance with Martine, as it constantly reminds him of how his relationship with Chang must remain secret.

also yes, this poster is a reference to the poster for Tintin and the Blue Oranges

[samara444]

insane sp SUCCESS STORY !!

yall this motivated me sooo much, i found this success story on reddit - she didnt feel, visualise, felt like shit, stressed out etc. she went thru so much shit and STILL got what she wanted. here are the screenshots, i hope this motivates yall to NEVER give up !!

"it worked for me, it will work for you. ❤️"

[marvelousbelladonna]

Cast Art

[technically-human]

*Reverses your Christmas*

A gift from @i-am-as-normal-as-you-are to all of you :) we really wanted the boys to get along for once, and what better occasion than Christmas? anything to make the Edwins happy!