Nativity Scene outdoors

[Gerianne]

Some churches are putting out display performances of the Nativity. I went to one such a show last night. There were several outdoor booths. They had real donkeys (even in Florida).
One showed Caeser making his decree, another showed a tax collector, another showed some women selling their wares. There were two different ones showing Mary and Joseph, one being the scene with the innkeeper telling them there was no room at the inn and the other was the manger scene.

[ludie43]

One of our churches here in town have a live scene and it is very beautiful..

[timvolley]

i have heard of them but not locally and i think it is good

[hitch0403]

The visiting astrologers—however many of them there were—did not worship the true God. The Bible version La Nueva Biblia Latinoamérica (1989 Edition) states in a footnote: “The Magi were not kings, but fortune-tellers and priests of a pagan religion.” They came in line with their knowledge of the stars to which they were devoted. Had God wanted to guide them to the young child, they would have been led to the exact place without needing to go first to Jerusalem and to Herod’s palace. Later on, God did intervene to alter their course to protect the child.
At Christmastime this account is often surrounded by a mythical and romantic atmosphere that obscures the most important thing: that this baby was born to be a magnificent King, as was announced to Mary and to the shepherds. No, Jesus Christ is not a baby anymore, or even a child. He is the ruling King of God’s Kingdom, which very soon will eliminate all rulerships opposed to God’s will, and he will solve all problems of mankind. That is the Kingdom we ask for in the Lord’s Prayer.—Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10.
Through the angels’ declaration to the shepherds, we learn that the opportunity for salvation is open to all who are willing to hear the message of the good news. Those who gain the favor of God become “men of goodwill.” There are marvelous prospects for peace in all the world under the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, but people must be willing to do God’s will. Is the Christmas season conducive to this, and does it reflect that desire? Many sincere people who want to follow the Bible feel that the answer is obvious.—Luke 2:10, 11, 14.

[freedavis]

that is really cool ideal for the kids to reflect on past moments in church.

[patycake56]

We have a couple of churchs here that do that  I think that is really pretty and I love it

[hitch0403]

Jesus is Gods chosen king of HIS kingdom.Acts 4:12 says there is NO other name that carrys this salvation!!Yes try to remember that when you recite the Hail Mary.

So if you had a son that was a GREAT doctor and he just received a worldwide promotion for HIS fantastic work to have earned that position...at the celebration would you expect to see baby pics of him in the cradle???

Bible says satan transforms himself into an angel of light.He does a pretty good job of it with xmas!!

[JediJohnnie]

Jesus is Gods chosen king of HIS kingdom.Acts 4:12 says there is NO other name that carrys this salvation!!Yes try to remember that when you recite the Hail Mary.

So if you had a son that was a GREAT doctor and he just received a worldwide promotion for HIS fantastic work to have earned that position...at the celebration would you expect to see baby pics of him in the cradle???

Bible says satan transforms himself into an angel of light.He does a pretty good job of it with xmas!!

If he was part of a virgin birth-yes!

[JediJohnnie]

The visiting astrologers—however many of them there were—did not worship the true God.The Bible version La Nueva Biblia Latinoamérica (1989 Edition) states in a footnote: “The Magi were not kings, but fortune-tellers and priests of a pagan religion.” They came in line with their knowledge of the stars to which they were devoted. Had God wanted to guide them to the young child, they would have been led to the exact place without needing to go first to Jerusalem and to Herod’s palace. Later on, God did intervene to alter their course to protect the child.
At Christmastime this account is often surrounded by a mythical and romantic atmosphere that obscures the most important thing: that this baby was born to be a magnificent King, as was announced to Mary and to the shepherds. No, Jesus Christ is not a baby anymore, or even a child. He is the ruling King of God’s Kingdom, which very soon will eliminate all rulerships opposed to God’s will, and he will solve all problems of mankind. That is the Kingdom we ask for in the Lord’s Prayer.—Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10.
Through the angels’ declaration to the shepherds, we learn that the opportunity for salvation is open to all who are willing to hear the message of the good news. Those who gain the favor of God become “men of goodwill.” There are marvelous prospects for peace in all the world under the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, but people must be willing to do God’s will. Is the Christmas season conducive to this, and does it reflect that desire? Many sincere people who want to follow the Bible feel that the answer is obvious.—Luke 2:10, 11, 14.

This is completely false.They sought the newborn King of the Jews from a far off land and were not privy to scripture detailing the prophecy of the location of the Messiah's birth.Hence,they had to go to Herod to find the right location.Simply following a star would not give exact directions. (It was a star-not a GPS!)

[ktheodos]

I love seeing outside Nativity sets! It's always sad when people steal items from and/or destroy them

[hitch0403]

“Star” Seen After Jesus’ Birth. The “astrologers from eastern parts,” hence from the neighborhood of Babylon, whose visit to King Herod after the birth of Jesus resulted in the slaughter of all the male infants in Bethlehem, were obviously not servants or worshipers of the true God. (Mt 2:1-18; see ASTROLOGERS.) As to the “star” (Gr., a·ster′) seen by them, many suggestions have been given as to its having been a comet, a meteor, a supernova, or, more popularly, a conjunction of planets. None of such bodies could logically have ‘come to a stop above where the young child was,’ thereby identifying the one house in the village of Bethlehem where the child was found. It is also notable that only these pagan astrologers “saw” the star. Their condemned practice of astrology and the adverse results of their visit, placing in danger the life of the future Messiah, certainly allow for, and even make advisable, the consideration of their having been directed by a source adverse to God’s purposes as relating to the promised Messiah. It is certainly reasonable to ask if the one who “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,” whose operation is “with every powerful work and lying signs and portents,” who was able to make a serpent appear to speak, and who was referred to by Jesus as “a manslayer when he began,” could not also cause astrologers to ‘see’ a starlike object that guided them first, not to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem, where resided a mortal enemy of the promised Messiah.—2Co 11:3, 14; 2Th 2:9; Ge 3:1-4; Joh 8:44.

[JediJohnnie]

And again I say you're giving Satan too much power in you think he can create a star.It's ludicrous.

The reason it says Satan can transform himself into an angel of light,is because he's crafty enough not to tempt people in his naked deformity.He is the father of lies and makes himself look/sound like the truth.But he has no real powers of creation/transformation.His only power is in tempting mankind to do evil.(and frankly,mankind rarely needs his help.)

And again,the Wise Men were astronomers not astrologers.They studied the stars,but they were not fortune tellers and soothsayers or whatever it is you'd have us believe.   

[hitch0403]

Seriously JJ....the bible says the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one.Yes i understand and even ask the question why does God give Satan that much power?But he has.You arent giving credit to spiritual creatues how powerful they are.You forget God allowed the angels to materialize thru the flood and the offspring they created were GIANTS!!

Read the book of Job and see how powerful Satan is killing Jobs family

It isnt i who is giving him too much credit...it is you not recognizing how POWERFUL this SOB is!!!But again God has allowed it with good reason and HE has actually put restraints on him.

[hitch0403]

Rev 12:9 says Satan is misleading the entire world.

Yes no doubt mankind is to blame for much of his crap too...........stop selling the devil short.Those 2 world wars after he was cast from heaven had much of his influence.If they werent a wake-up call to mankind not sure what will ever be!!

And of course i know when bible says,He transforms himself into an angel of light"All you have to do is look at Babylon the great of modern day Christendom.....the false teachings and BS!!He is behind that!!

Yes the Watchtower doesnt hold back proclaiming much of the death,sorrow,etc is the cause of Satan.He BSed A&E into thinking they would be better off ruling themselves so he could use them as he was their god.

Try to remember what he said to Jesus for an act of worship!!Jesus never denied he wasnt the ruler of this world for now.

[hitch0403]

Satan is also referred to as a "manslayer"

It isnt only mankind why this world is evil.The bible doesnt hold back identifying what who and why Satan is.The name means "Slanderer"...and he did that from the start to God!!

But it frustrates the devil cos he couldnt break the integrity of ALL humans as he said he could.Thats why Revelation shows since hes been cast from heaven he knows his time is short....pretty good indication why the world since 1914 been a disaster even more so.