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Tag Archives: Bethlehem

The Real Gift of Christmas

23 Dec

Bongo's presents on top of the fridgeChristmas is almost here and I’m getting really excited. Our tree is up, the lights are on, and I’m looking for the presents. I keep hearing that Santa will bring me presents, but I think I saw my person putting some good smelling things all wrapped in brightly colored paper on top of the fridge.

I’m a pretty good jumper, but I wish I could jump just a little bit higher. All the good stuff that doesn’t go into the fridge seems to go on top of it. If I could get up there I could have a treat feast.

But there’s something else I wish I could do besides jump higher. I wish I could sneak back in time – not too far back, just a little over 2000 years. That’s not asking much, is it?

And I’d like to go to a place called Bethlehem. A little baby was born there one night. Well, I guess lots of babies were born there, but this one was special. This little baby was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger because the inn was full and his parents had nowhere else to go except for where the animals hung out.

Since there were animals there already I’m sure no one would notice one extra dog in the place. Especially when those shepherds showed up. Everybody would figure I was one of their sheepdogs. Well maybe. I could have pretended I was a sheepdog anyway.

Even if I had to change my appearance so I could pass as a sheepdog, travel back in time, and go to a faraway place, it would be all worth it to see God making his appearance on earth as a baby.

***

Hey person, I think I knocked a ball onto the top of the fridge. Could you get it for me, and maybe knock some of those presents down while you’re at it?

What are you saying, person? The true gift of Christmas is Jesus? That baby in a manger is the gift? Never mind then. I guess Jesus isn’t hanging out on top of the fridge.

***

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

752px-Gerard_van_Honthorst_001

 

 

 

 
20 Comments

Posted by on December 23, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Yeshua is Born

16 Dec
Yeshua

Yeshua (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Okay person, in the last Bible story you told me you said Moses climbed a mountain and died, and Joshua took over. But you weren’t going to tell me any stories about Joshua right now because there’s someone else you want to tell me about who has the same name, but different.

Okay, I’m waiting. Who is this person with the same name – but different?

His name is what? Yeshua? That’s a strange name. I’ve never heard of a name like that before.

And Joshua had a name like it? Wait a minute. Joshua’s name is Joshua.

Person, you are really confusing. Okay, I’ll listen.

Yeshua is a shortened version of Joshua’s Hebrew name Yehoshua? Joshua was sometimes called Yeshua. How come Joshua has so many names?

Because his Hebrew name is translated to his English name when the Bible is translated into English? Okay person, what would his name be in Doglish?

I am listening.

This story is about Yeshua, who was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph, and laid in a manger because there was no room at the inn.

Wait a minute person. You told me this story last year. But it was about Jesus. There can’t be two babies who hung out in mangers.

They were the same baby? Now I’m really confused.

Yeshua is Jesus’ Hebrew name. Then how come we don’t call him Joshua like that other guy.

Because Jesus’ name was translated into Greek first (part of the Bible was written in Greek?) and then into English, so it became Jesus instead of Joshua.

Oh dog, that’s all Greek to me. What would his name be if it was translated again into Doglish?

The name Yeshua means Salvation? I know what it would be in Doglish then.

Dinner.

 
14 Comments

Posted by on December 16, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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The Magi

08 Jan
The Magi Journeying

My person says that there are a lot of Nativity scenes that show the wise men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. She says that these wise men were probably not there at all that first night when Jesus was lying in a manger.

These wise men, called Magi, were probably astrologers. Because they studied the stars they would recognize a new star when it appeared in the sky. They knew what the star meant and came to worship the baby Jesus who was born king of the Jews. The Magi came from the east – maybe from an area which is currently in modern day Iraq.

Okay person, we have Magi and a star – but where are the animals? I’m ready to leave.

My person said to hold on. “Sigh.” She said these Magi were probably rich considering the gifts they brought along for the baby Jesus. They could most likely afford camels for their travels. Well, camels are much bigger than me, but I guess they are still animals.

Those Magi came to Israel riding on their camels and didn’t know exactly where to find Jesus, so they went to King Herod in Jerusalem. King Herod had no clue where to find Jesus, but he was very upset to hear about another king. I guess I might feel the same way if another dog took over my house.

So King Herod had to ask the chief priests and teachers of the law where the Christ was to be born. They told him the prophet Micah had said that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

That sneaky King Herod found out from the Magi just when the star had appeared and told them that after they found the Christ child to let him know so he could go worship him.

The Magi went on their way and the star went ahead of them and stopped over the house where Mary and Jesus were. They bowed down and worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Wow Jesus, you got some pretty awesome gifts – but did they give you any chew toys or treats?

 
38 Comments

Posted by on January 8, 2012 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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The Shepherds See

25 Dec

 

Catena - The Adoration of the Shepherds

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”        Luke 2:10b – 11

What is it with my person? She keeps putting stuff on my blog that I didn’t write. Is this another Bible story? All I can say is it better be a good one – and the last one had animals, so try to beat that.

Animals and angels? No way! Okay, I’m listening.

My person told me that the night baby Jesus was born there were shepherds in some nearby fields watching their flocks. I bet it was cold and dark out there. Those shepherds must have really loved those sheep to stay out there with them. I wonder if they cuddled up with their sheep dogs to keep warm.

Okay person. You can go on with the story. I was just thinking about those animals. I love the parts with animals. Well, the shepherds were sitting around all cuddled up with their dogs and an angel appeared to them. They were really scared when they saw that angel and the angel had to tell them not to be afraid. Then that angel told the shepherds about the baby that would save them and that the baby would be lying in a manger.

When that angel finished talking a whole bunch of angels appeared and started praising God. When all those angels left, those shepherds must have been looking at each other really funny. “Did you see that?” “Pinch me please.” “Did we all see the same thing?”

Those shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem and check things out for themselves and when they got there they found Mary and Joseph, and there was a baby lying in a manger. I bet it was the first time they saw a baby in a manger – I mean, who would want to put their baby in a trough that animals ate out of?

The shepherds went out to tell everyone they could find what they had seen. They glorified and praised God and people were amazed at their story.

My person says that Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

That must have been a special baby. For angels to choose to tell people that hung out with sheep and sheep dogs, and for the baby to be born where animals hang out? What a great way to start out in life.

 

 
20 Comments

Posted by on December 25, 2011 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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To Bethlehem

18 Dec
English: Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem (...

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”     Micah 5:2

My person promised. She said today’s Bible story will have animals in it – so I’m waiting. She’d better be right or I’m going to erase those words she put on my blog that I didn’t write.

My person says that Joseph eventually got married to Mary – that sounds funny, married to Mary. Okay person. I’ll try to listen, but I’m still waiting for those animals.

Caesar Augustus – he was the head guy of the Roman Empire that ruled over Israel at the time – decided he wanted to have a census. A what? Everyone had to go to his own town to register. My person said that since Joseph was from the line of David – hey I remember David. He started out as a shepherd boy and had lots of animals around him – Joseph had to go to David’s hometown of Bethlehem, and he took Mary with him.

Bethlehem was about eighty miles from Nazareth where Joseph and Mary lived. Mary was about to have a baby so it would have been hard for her to walk that far. My person says she probably rode a donkey.

A donkey! Finally, there’s an animal in the story.

Okay person, I’m listening now. When Joseph and Mary – and the donkey – finally made it to Bethlehem there was no room for them at the inn.

Mary was about to have her baby so she needed someplace to stay. You know what my person said they did? They went and hung out where the animals lived. Mary had her baby and she laid him in a manger. My person said a manger is the thing that the animals eat from.

I hope those animals don’t try to eat that baby by mistake.

 
34 Comments

Posted by on December 18, 2011 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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Hanging with Sheep

27 Nov
David anointed by Samuel

My person said she wanted to tell me about a person in the Bible named David and she thought I’d probably like him. When I asked her why she said that he started out as a shepherd and he probably had shepherd dogs to help him with the sheep. I like this guy already.

My person told me that David grew up in the town of Bethlehem and that even though he lived about a thousand years before, he had a lot to do with another person who started out in Bethlehem around a lot of animals. I asked my person who and she said that’s another story and we’ll get to it soon.

That’s okay, I want to hear about David and his shepherd dogs.

Well, my person said one day when David was out with his sheep a prophet named Samuel came to his father’s house. Samuel had been told by God to go to David’s father Jesse’s house and anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king. David had seven older brothers and Samuel thought that some of them looked like likely candidates to be king, but God told Samuel it didn’t matter what people looked like. He was more interested in their heart.

I’m sure David had a good heart because he was good to animals. Anyway, my person said that Samuel must have been perplexed (what kind of a word is that?) because God told him that He had not chosen any of the sons that were there. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons and Jesse told him his youngest was out tending the sheep.

They called for David and when he came God told Samuel he was the one. David not only had a good heart, he was handsome too.

My person said when Samuel anointed David king there was already another king named Saul, so David didn’t get to be king right away. She said David had lots of adventures because of Saul but for now he got to go back and be with the sheep. How cool is that? A king that likes hanging out with his sheep.

 
22 Comments

Posted by on November 27, 2011 in Bongo, Dogology, humor

 

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