Last year, I was blessed and honoured to interview the Godly Benham Brothers for my Inaugural Christmas Special, and I wondered all year long how this year’s Special could ever top that? I was pretty much resigned to the fact that it would not. Unless of course, I had the Benhams BACK again this year. Then I had the idea of bringing many well-known Christians together with Jason and David for one big star-studded Special. Of course, even if I did get many famous Christians to participate, if the Benham Bros weren’t on board, the Special just wouldn’t feel right. Well thanks be to God, the Benhams did agree to return and, on top of that, I’m overjoyed that many big names are joining them for this year’s Special.
Since founding Biblical Signs In The Headlines last year, my goal was to make the Christmas Special the biggest article of the entire year. I’m happy to say that, once again, the Special will definitely live up to the hype! It will undoubtedly be another memorable one. Like last year, this annual article is my Christmas gift to all of you faithful readers. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together! Instead of an interview this year, these prominent Christians will share their favorite Christmas memories, as well as their traditions that keep Christ Jesus at the center of their celebrations. So without further ado, I’m excited to finally present the 2nd Annual “Christmas Special”, and my VERY SPECIAL guests, beginning with my beloved brothers in Christ…
(Former MLB players/Real Estate entrepreneurs/Authors/Actors)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “Our parents did a good job of allowing us to enjoy the season without worshiping it, so we want to teach our kids the same. Mom used to put out a decoration of Santa kneeling at baby Jesus’ manger, and it’s always stuck in our minds. We can enjoy the traditions of the Holiday but never lose sight that it’s all pointing to Christ. One of the ways we practically lived this out was when our dad loaded a box of toys and food for a needy family in our neighborhood. We grew up in a relatively poor area, so it was easy to find needs, but this one particular night we went into the house of a family while all the kids were sleeping, and the mom was sitting in a rocking chair holding their newborn baby. In front of her was a bare Christmas tree, and the dad was out delivering pizzas. As we gave her the box she began to cry and thank God. That was the first time we ever felt God could use us to do something for Him in another person’s life. So we’ve incorporated that into our family’s Christmas traditions as well.”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “Each year we select different families to bless with Christmas boxes. We let the kids do all the investigative research on what the family needs, wants, etc., and we shop for them all in one night. We then go home, wrap and load all the boxes, and deliver them by knocking on the door and running away. The kids love it, and it blesses families in need.”
Learn more about the Benham Bros
(Star of Duck Dynasty)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “I remember it like it was yesterday… I was 11 years old. My parents walked in with a big box that had not been under the tree for my brother and I. I remember thinking, what could this be? I opened the gift and, there it was, my very first 12 gauge shotgun. It was a big deal to me. I mean my whole life I had been shooting hand me downs, but I finally had one to call my own, and it was a 12 gauge at that. I was a real hunter now! It is funny how things change over the years. I now no longer shoot a 12 gauge because I don’t like the kick of the gun. I shoot way better with a 20 gauge than I ever did with a 12.”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “We refuse to use any shorthand for Christmas. If you take Christ out of Christmas, then what do you have left? Basically you just have a gift giving exercise that we could do any time of year. I used to always make it a point to hunt on Christmas morning to just be outdoors and appreciate what God provides for us in nature. If you ever want to see the Creator’s Hand at work, spend a morning in a duck blind, and watch the world come to life. The colors never cease to amaze me, and the sight of fowl in the air still makes me feel like a kid after doing this for over 20 years. These days I spend Christmas with my wife’s family, and it is always a great time. I still miss my grandparents on Christmas most of all because our holidays were centered around their houses, but I know it won’t be long until we are reunited in Heaven, and that always fills me with hope. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home with examples of Godly men and women around me at all times.”
(Stars of Duck Dynasty/Authors)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “One of our enduring Christmas memories was when our daughters were about 14 and 13 (They’re 30 and 29 now), and we were spending Christmas Eve out at Phil and Kays where Al grew up. Al and Phil were going hunting on Christmas morning, but Phil woke up early to the smell of smoke. They had just put in a new fireplace and the brick layer had not properly insulated the fire place and the floor beams were on fire underneath the house. The only reason the whole house had not caught fire was because there wasn’t a lot of oxygen under there to fuel the fire. Once discovered by Phil, the whole house turned into 911! Miss Kay and Lisa were hauling water and Al and Phil were sledging the fire place to get water on the floor beams. It was complete chaos at 3:30 am! Our oldest daughter Anna had been sleeping on the couch in the living room and now was busy taking her presents (Just her’s, not everyones!) outside in case the house caught fire. Since Phil and Kay live so far out, it took the fire department about 45 minutes to reach the house and by then the fire was put out and the house saved. As the firemen put more water and checked everything it was about the time the guys would normally leave for hunting and Phil said, “Well there’s no since hanging around here, let’s head out to the blind!” Just like that, the guys were gone and the women were left with the daunting task of getting everything back in place for the Robertson family Christmas that night. Some things never change…”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “One thing we have done for years, to keep Christ the center of our Christmas season, is attend and/or lead a Christmas Eve service at our church. Al started doing it many years ago when he was the Pastor. It is always such an encouragement to worship and hear some timely words about the coming of Christ and His mission to redeem us. It really is the “reason for our season” and through the years of want and plenty, this tradition has always reminded us what Christmas is truly all about. Even after Al left full-time ministry to appear on Duck Dynasty and speak around the country, he still leads the Christmas Eve service with the Pastor. This Christmas Eve will continue that tradition and our family will all be there.”
“Merry Christmas to everyone and we are so grateful for all those that have supported the Robertson family all of these years. May God bless all with a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2017.” ~ Al & Lisa
(Christian Actress: Star of “I’m Not Ashamed”/Author)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “When I was growing up, we would all go out shopping as a family on Christmas Eve. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, so this was the one time a year that we would all go out to our favorite restaurant together. After that, we would go to the mall, and me and my siblings would all buy each other and our parents gifts with the money we had saved up. After that, we would drive around and look at all the Christmas lights we could find and come home and bake cookies, wrap the presents, and listen to Adventures in Odyssey. This night was my absolute favorite night of the year with my family.”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “Like a lot of people, we read about Jesus’ birth in the Bible every year on Christmas before we open presents. When we were little, my mom would always bake a “happy birthday Jesus” cake, and we would celebrate Jesus’ birthday that way.”
(Conservative Talk Show Host/Author/Conservative Review contributor)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “My favorite Christmas memory is the year our oldest daughter, Anastasia, had saved up the entire year for an iPad. She was about a hundred bucks short at Christmas, so my wife and I bought a huge box to place the rest of the money in to reward her for her discipline. But inside the box were several smaller boxes she had to continue to open to get there. Just as she was getting discouraged, what she hoped for was there. That was a lesson on how faith worked.”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “Each Christmas, we give our kids three gifts for Christmas, as Christ was given three gifts. We always attend Christmas Eve service as a family (this year I get to preach on Christmas Day, so I’m excited about that). And my wife includes Advent into our homeschooling curriculum.”
(Christian Actor: Films include “I’m Not Ashamed” and “Courageous”)
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: “For most people, Christmas is the most anticipated holiday of the year. I am no different because Christmas is also one of my favorites, however the reason I love it so much has changed over the years. As a kid, you can’t not tremble with excitement on Christmas eve, waiting to see what will be in the stocking and under the tree, and I loved waking up early with my mother and father and laying around playing as a family with the new toys. But as I got older Christmas has become more about the people you are with rather than what I got. Now, looking back on my Christmas memories, my favorite times were not just waking up and finding a Buzz Lightyear under the tree, but more, my grandparents coming over, eating breakfast as a family and packing into our giant green sandbox lid before sliding down our (dangerously steep hill) with my dad and siblings.”
CHRIST-CENTERED TRADITION: “My parents never told me that Santa Claus was real. My mom said ‘it was because they never wanted to lie to us’, and also because Santa shouldn’t be the main figure of Christmas anyway. I believe, because of that, we were able to keep Christ at the center of the Holiday. Also, every year someone is chosen to read the Christmas story from the Bible. I’ll never forget how nervous I was when I was finally old enough to crack open the big family Bible at my grandparents and struggle to pronounce the Biblical names as I read about the birth of Jesus. Good times :)”
… Another Christmas Special is now in the books, and I pray that the memories and traditions shared have strengthened your faith, and inspired you all the more to keep Christ at the center of your Holiday. I Hope you all enjoyed my special guests as much as I enjoyed having them. I’m so grateful to the Benham Bros, Martin, Al and Lisa, Steve, Masey, and Ben for taking the time. This was truly an unforgettable gift to the website, to me, and God willing to all who read it. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of my guests, to all of you, and may our Good Lord bless you all with a happy & healthy New Year! Always remember, and remind everyone you know, that Christmas begins with CHRIST.
“The Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name IMMANUEL.” ~ Isaiah 7:14
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us A SON is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty GOD, The everlasting Father, The Prince of PEACE.” ~ Isaiah 9:6
“And Mary shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His Name JESUS: for He shall SAVE His people from their SINS.” ~ Matthew 1:21
“Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” ~ Matthew 1:23
“And, behold Mary, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His Name JESUS. He shall be GREAT, and shall be called the Son of the Most High GOD: and the Lord (YaHWeH) God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall REIGN over the house of Jacob (Israel) FOR EVER; and of His Kingdom there shall be NO END.” ~ Luke 1:31-33
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOUR, which is Christ the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, GLORY TO GOD in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men.” ~ Luke 2:11-14
“In the beginning was the Word (JESUS CHRIST), and the Word was WITH God, and the Word WAS God… And the Word was made FLESH, and dwelt AMONG us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten SON of the Father,) full of grace and TRUTH.” ~ John 1:1 & 14
BIBLICALSIGNS.COM 
That was Great!! I’m gonna let Uncle Jerry to Read this! Positive messages and I was smiling the whole time I was reading! Great job Michael!!!
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❤
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Michael, this was a great to hear the love everyone had for their family memories and most of all like us their love for Christ. Keeping Christ in Christmas is so important. I am so very proud of you that no matter what people say or think you make sure they know Christ comes before anything.
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Love you ❤
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Reblogged this on Kattukse Vrienden voor Israël.
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Michael, have a blessed Christmas. Btw, are you from Canada, or the UK? You spelled ‘honored’ with an extra ‘u’.
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I’m from America. I spell it that way cause that’s how the King James Bible spells it. May God bless you with a merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year!
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