The following was taken from the First United Methodist's NEWSVOICE
It can also be found by clicking on the link to the right of my blog labeled My Church.




A few years ago an Associated Press
story reported a college student in
Belleville, Illinois had “borrowed” baby
Jesus from the town’s nativity display
in order to “take him out for a drink” at
Applebee’s Bar and Grill.

Applebee’s hostess Haydee Gryzmala, who retains good taste
in these days of bad manners, called the police, who arrested
the prankster and explained to the press: “The other figurines
in the nativity scene are wired down, but it just doesn’t
seem right to tie down Jesus.”

Of course they could try, I guess – with enough ingenuity
and wire – try to tie him down, but there is evidence it would
be in vain. Lots of people do try to tie him down… to ideologies,
theologies, nations, parties, denominations…and they
don’t just try it with the baby. In fact, they try harder to do
it with Jesus in all his grown-uppedness. Nailed to a cross,
buried in a tomb, they tried to tie him down when he wouldn’t
fit into their little worlds. But he busted loose and, for all
I know, may be having a drink at the Henderson Applebee’s
as you read this article. Don’t be angry with me for suggesting
such a seemingly absurd thing; he’s free as a bird to do
whatever he wants whether you and I like it or not. The cop
was right: You really can’t tie down the baby Jesus. Why
don’t you worship him instead?