Steve: Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.
Steve: You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.
Steve: It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,
Steve: so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Steve: Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.
Steve: However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.
Steve: WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,
Steve: and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.
Steve: LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com.
Steve: And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.
Steve: Hello and welcome back to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, Day 10.
Steve: I'm your host, Steve Webb.
Steve: Let's find out what's behind today's door.
James: Today is the second Sunday in Advent
James: and on our calendar that represents the Bible.
James: So let's light two of our Advent candles and find out more about the Bible.
Steve: The Bible is the holy book used by Christians, but it's not just one book.
Steve: It's made up of 66 books written in three different languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
Steve: And it was written over a period of about 1,500 years.
Steve: The Bible is in two main parts, the Old and New Testaments.
Steve: The Old Testament tells about creation, the history of the Jewish people, and the promise of a Messiah or Savior.
Steve: The New Testament tells about the life of Jesus, who Christians believe is the promised Messiah and his first followers.
James: One way of using the Bible, especially the Old Testament, at Christmas, is through a Jesse tree.
James: The name comes from Jesse, who was the father of the great Jewish king David.
James: One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says,
James: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.
James: From his roots a branch will bear fruit.
Steve: A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings.
Steve: Jesus was a descendant of King David, and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch.
James: The first Jesse trees date back to medieval times,
James: and were large carvings, tapestries, or even stained glass windows in churches
James: that helped illiterate people learn about the Bible, from creation to the Christmas story.
James: But now Jesse trees can be used as a kind of advent calendar.
James: You can use a normal Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree.
James: Each day through Advent, or sometimes just on the four Sundays of Advent,
James: a special decoration or ornament that tells a story from the Bible is hung on the tree.
James: Well, James, what kind of ornaments could be used?
James: For the Garden of Eden, you could have an apple or apple tree.
James: For the story of Noah, a rainbow.
James: For Joseph and his brothers, you could have a multicoloured coat.
James: And for Moses, a burning bush.
James: To tell the Christmas story, Mary is represented by a white lily to show her purity.
James: Joseph a hammer as he was a carpenter,
James: the shepherds a fluffy sheep,
James: and Jesus a manger.
James: I think you get the idea.
James: For some more ideas and symbols,
James: please go and check out the Jesse Tree page
James: in the Christmas Customs section of whychristmas.com
James: So I hope you've learnt a bit more about the Bible.
James: It's much more than a dusty old book with some rules in.
James: guitar solo
Steve: That's right, James.
Steve: It's a great read and a real manual for life.
Steve: And it's the best-selling book in history.
Steve: Of course, the theme music today was Brian Duncan
Steve: and the Neil Soul Band with This Christmas,
Steve: and the background music was Derek K. Miller
Steve: with We Three Kings.
Steve: Thanks for listening to Day 10 of the Lifespring Advent Calendar.
Steve: Please come back tomorrow where you never know
Steve: what will be behind the door.
Steve: For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb, your host.
Music: This Christmas
Music: It's the love I needed
Music: And it's what I want
Music: This Christmas
Music: And it's what I want for you
Music: The story is so
Music: This Christmas
Music: Of a newborn love
Music: This Christmas
Music: It's the best of all I know
Music: This Christmas brings
Music: Long after Christmas
Music: Ties are gone