Tag Archive | "christmas"

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Publisher’s Perspective: Historical Essay No.74

Posted on 26 December 2013 by LeslieM

Since our family, the Eller family, has lived in Deerfield Beach since 1923, I’ve often been asked to put in writing some of the history of the area, either experienced personally, or that I heard from my parents or grandparents. For some of you old timers that might be worried about certain old “scandals,” don’t worry, I won’t be writing about those (smile).

David Eller, Publisher

My most memorial Christmas yet my wife’s best and worst

For a Christian, having your birthday on Christmas Eve is a bummer. People can give you a present and say, “This is your birthday and Christmas present. This actually happened to my wife’s father, Arthur, and her mother’s father, Edward, both of whom were born on Christmas Eve. Therefore, when my wife, Deborah, was pregnant with our first child in 1971 and the doctor predicted our baby would be born toward the end of December, we all laughed about it making some sort of record if our baby was also born on Dec. 24.

However, on Dec. 23 about 4.30 p.m., our baby son, Dana, decided he wanted out of his mama’s belly and started kicking hard. This was before cell phones. My wife was at home, and I was driving around locally delivering Christmas gifts to some of our customers and calling her from a customer’s office every hour. I’d just talked to her about 4:15 p.m. and she told me everything was fine. Therefore, I was having a good time at Consulting Engineer John Grant’s office party in Boca Raton. But, when I called home about 5: 15 p.m.and no one answered, I knew I was in trouble. My wife, shortly after talking to me on the phone had suddenly gone into hard labor. Not able to reach me, she called my mother who lived nearby, who rushed over to drive her to Bethesda Hospital in Boynton. My mother, very excited, got lost a couple of times trying to find the hospital, but they finally got there just a few minutes before my wife gave birth. I also arrived to the hospital just in time to also welcome our first born, son Dana, into this world. It was 42 years ago this week. He weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 inches long.

The next day, Dec. 24,I went to the store and bought a little boys’ red outfit 20 inches long with Santa and reindeers on it. It turned out to be way too big, as I had forgotten to adjust the length down for his head sticking out of it.

However, unbeknownst to me, the “fun” had just begun. The next day, Christmas, Dec. 25,1971, the Miami Dolphins were playing the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City for the AFC divisional championship.

Both had identical 10-3 records. I just had to watch this game and figured I could visit my wife and new son in the hospital as soon as the game was over. I had no idea that this game would ultimately go down as the longest professional football game in history.

Meanwhile, two of my mother’s brothers arrived in town to visit my grandmother in Boynton. They were big Kansas City supporters and they invited me to watch the game with them and make a $100 bet for the Dolphins to win. I agreed since I figured I would still have time to visit my wife and new son after the game. Big mistake. Miami spent most of the game playing catch-up to Kansas City. Miami tied the score at 24-24 with just 1:25 left in regulation when Bob Griese threw a 5 yard pass to Marv Fleming.

They were still tied after the first overtime. But, midway through the second overtime, Miami kicker GaroYepremian, with shoe laces still untied, kicked a 37-yard field goal to win the longest game in NFL history.

I collected my winnings from my uncles and headed off to the hospital. I arrived just as visiting hours were over. But, when I explained why I was late, I was able to convince them to let me have a short visit with my wife and new son. My wife was not a happy camper, but our new son didn’t seem to care, and, now, he has four sons of his own.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Christmas and Chanukah Services

Posted on 22 December 2011 by LeslieM

Chanukah

Pompano Beach

 

Thursday, December 22, 5:30pm

Pompano Citi Centre (in the courtyard), 1955-201 N. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Menorah lighting. Local dignitaries, sand art for kids, hot latkes, doughnuts, music, raffles! FREE!

 

Deerfield Beach

 

Sunday, December 25, 5 p.m.

S. Ocean Way (between 1 and 2 streets by the Main Beach Parking Lot)

Grand lighting of 9′ Menorah. Local dignitaries, sand art for kids, hot latkes, jelly doughnuts, music, dreidels, raffles!  FREE! For more info., call 347-410-1106 or visit www.JewishLHP.com.

 

Christmas Services

Deerfield Beach

 

Christian Love Fellowship Church

Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

747 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For information, call 954-428-8980.

 

Community Presbyterian Church

Christmas Eve, 6 p.m., Christmas Day, 8:30 and 11 a.m.

1920 SE 4 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For more information, call 954-427-0222.

 

First Baptist Deerfield Beach

Christmas Eve, 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m.

701 NE 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For more information, 954-427-1216

 

New Horizon Church

Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

841 SE 2 Court, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For information, call 954-427-3045.

 

St. Ambrose

Christmas Eve, 4, 5:30, 7:30, 9 p.m. and midnight

Christmas Day, 7:30, 9, 10:30, noon and 6 p.m.

380 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For more information, call 954-427-2225.

 

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

417 S. Dixie Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., Christmas Day, 11 a.m.

For more information, call 954-428-3040.

 

Zion Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve, 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Christmas Day, 10 a.m., 959 SE 6 Ave., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

For information, call 954-421-3146.

 

Pompano Beach

 

First Presbyterian, “The Pink Church”

Christmas Eve, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m., Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

2331 NE 26 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

For more information, call 954-941-2308

 

Grace Baptist Church

Christmas Day, 10:45 a.m.

501 NE 48 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33064

For more information, call 954-421-0190.

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CLERGY CORNER: Reducing Holiday Stress

Posted on 15 December 2011 by LeslieM

Most people really don’t enjoy life; they endure it. Their lives are filled with anxiety, stress and pressure and there’s very little joy. The Christmas season is the most stressful time of the year. We worry about presents, finances, etc. I want us to look at a strategy for dealing with seasonal stress.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  NLT

STEP ONE: WORRY ABOUT NOTHING

Worry is assuming responsibility that God never intended  you to have. Worry is worthless. It cannot change the past or control the future. It is an incredible waste of energy.  Some people are born worriers; they have the ability to find a problem in every solution. Worry is not natural, it is something you learn; you have to practice to get good at it. If it is learned, it can also be unlearned. In order to relieve stress, live one day at a time.

STEP TWO: PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING

Paul is saying, don’t panic – pray. If those people who say “I don’t have time to pray” would spend their time praying instead of worrying, they’d have a whole lot less to worry about. God is interested in everything in your life. Prayer is a tremendous release of pressure. A life insurance company did a study. They learned that people who attend church once a week live on average 5.7 years longer. Why? Perhaps, people who attend church every week are more likely to pray than to worry. There is no problem too big for God’s power or too small for God’s concern.

STEP THREE: THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS

Ungrateful people also tend to be unhappy people. Nothing ever satisfies them, it’s never good enough. We have so much that we take for granted. Develop the attitude of gratitude and watch the stress level in your life go down. It gets your eyes off the problem and on the many things we have to be grateful for. There is always something to be grateful for.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  NLT

STEP FOUR: THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS

To reduce stress in your life, you must change the way you think. You have been given by God the freedom to choose what you think about. Many people are allowing all kinds of garbage into their minds. What you think affects the way you feel; the way you feel affects the way you act. Guard your mind. Keep your mind on the right things. If the thought is not right, true, pure, lovely, etc., don’t allow it to get into your mind because it’s going to create stress. Whatever I think about, is what I am becoming.

People are looking everywhere for peace of mind. They try pills, fads, therapy, alcohol, stress reduction seminars and books – anything to give just a little peace of mind. God’s peace is a gift to you. It is a gift that cannot be explained, duplicated, fabricated or understood. God will guard your mind and heart when you have a relationship with Jesus Christ and trust Him. Instead of worrying about everything, you pray about everything. You thank God for all things and keep your mind on the right things.

 

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church

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