2015 Christmas Worship Guide

The bike before Christmas
Submitted by Pastor Ben Manley, First Baptist Church of Lincoln

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[December 22, 2015]  Pastor Ben Manley of First Baptist Church of Lincoln lends a little humor to lighten spirits. The classic Christmas poem 'The night before Christmas' takes a modern twist, a cute reminder that grandparents might recall with fondness as their now adult children take on the reigns as providers and organizers for the family Christmas.

The bike before Christmas
- Author unknown


‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through our house
Not a creature was sleeping, not even my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with screws.
(If you can’t find the nails, what else do you use?)

The children were restless, awake in their beds,
While visions of spanking them danced in our heads.

I worked in my bathrobe. My husband, in jeans,
Had gone down to the den with directions and dreams.

To assemble a bike that came in small pieces
With deflated tires and fenders with creases.

Soon down in the den there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from task to see what was the matter.
 


Away to my husband I flew like a flash;
He was shuffling through cardboard; his actions were rash.

The bike on the rug by this now-flustered dad
Soon gave me a hint as to why he was mad.

He needed a kickstand. It had to be near.
I shuffled some papers—he saw it appear!

We twisted the screws; we were lively and quick,
And we soon knew assembly would be quite a trick.

Fast as eagles in flight the pieces were found,
And he whistled and shouted for parts all around:
“Now socket! Now pedal! Now tires! Now brakes!
On handles! On kick stand! On horn!…oh…but wait!”

In the top of the toolbox, he fumbled around;
“I need two more screws!” he said with a frown.

And like all good parents determined to please
When they meet with an obstacle on Christmas Eve, We shouted and yelled some complaints to each other.
There was never more frustrated father and mother!



And then, in a panic, we heard on the stairs
The prancing and hopping of feet…’bout two pairs!

I opened the door and was turning around,
When kids bust from the hall with a leap and a bound.

They were dressed all in flannel, from their necks to their knees,
And their nightgowns were soiled with sugar and cheese!

Excuses poured forth from each pair of lips;
They stood in defiance with hands on their hips.

Their eyes were wide open, and each little child
Jumped when I yelled with a voice hardly mild.

They were frightened but cute, though not much bigger than elves,
And we laughed when we saw them, in spite of ourselves.

[to top of second column]

A wink of the eye and a pat on the head
Soon let them both know they had nothing to dread.

They saw not a thing but went straight to their beds,
And we finished the bike and put bows on the sleds.

Then wheeling the bike by the tree (out of sight),
My hubby announced we should call it a night.

He sprang to his bed, to the clock gave a whistle,
As the time had flown by like a large titan missile.

But I heard him exclaim as he turned out the light,
“Merry Christmas, my dear, but next year NO BIKE!”

*****

May God bless us all
for keeping the excitement of Christmas
real for our little ones!

 

 

Read all the articles in our new
2015 Christmas Worship Guide

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
Advent Promise
Pastor Adam Quine
4
The best news...Jesus, a gift to the broken
Pastor Michael Paulson
6
Hurry home
Pastor Larry Crawford
7
Still amazed by Christmas
Pastor Ken Kramer
10
The most wonder-filled time of the year
Pastor Greg Wooten
13
"Christmas doesn't happen without me"
Pastor Jonathan Buesdher
15
There's blues this season...,and there's Jesus
Pastor Michael Mallick
17
Could one man's decision 2,000 years ago change hearts today?
Pastor Mark Weber
18
"Recognizing the Truth of Christmas"
Pastor Stacy Popejoy
20
See with joy, the Christ Child has come
Pastor/Chaplain Ryan Edgecombe
25
Where is the new King?
Pastor Zoila Marty
26
The bike before Christmas
Pastor Ben Manley
27
Church Worship Schedules 30

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