It’s Official!
It’s June 25th!
Six months until Christmas and roughly five months until our annual “Christmas Songs Extravaganza!”
(We don’t think snow is predicted for Florida today, but we can hope!)
Jun 25, 2018
Dec 27, 2017
Yes Virginia, There Is A “War” Against Christmas.
There always seems to be a lot of discussion as to whether there is a “war” on Christmas this time of year. We aren’t sure that we would have declared the erosion of school plays mentioning Christmas, or singing carols, or government workers being told not to display anything about Christmas on their desks as part of a “war,” but it seems to us that it is definitely a part of a larger purpose to remove the holiday and its meaning and turn it into a secular and commercialized day off.
That being said, it is hard, if not impossible, to see this incident as an attack on Christmas.
The Reverend Jamie Wolfe, Sr. is a “bell ringer” for the Salvation Army who was ringing his bell, collecting donations and wishing people a “Merry Christmas” in front of a WalMart in Roseville, California.
Sadly, those two simple words got this bell ringer knocked out.
“He haymakered me, hit me, got me down on the ground and we started wrestling, at that point I’m fighting for my life,” Wolfe Sr. said.
The man wasn’t after the kettle money, but instead, his cheer.
“Definitely unexpected,” he claimed.
Dec 25, 2017
Merry Christmas!
We hope that you are having a wonderful and blessed Christmas surrounded by friends and family and those you love.
Our first year of being online, we posted Linus’ speech from “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” as it tells the meaning of Christmas and brings back so many fond memories. What we didn’t realize is that for years our friend William Teach over at the Pirate’s Cove had been doing the same thing – long before we thought of it. (Great minds think alike, we guess.)
Luckily for us, Teach even took the time to upload the video to YouTube and so we thank him for that.
Merry Christmas from all the writers, staff and contributors here at Raised on Hoecakes.
Luke chapter 2:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
(more…)
Dec 24, 2017
Silent Night – John Denver And The Muppets.
This year, as is our tradition every year, we end our Christmas musical celebration with John Denver and the Muppets singing “Silent Night.”
Years ago we watched the Christmas special called “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.” One of our favorite parts was the singing of “Silent Night.” At the time, were weren’t familiar with the story behind the writing of song. John Denver explaining the origins of the song is a nice touch. (We have since found out that the reason the organ in the church was not working was that mice had chewed through the bellows.)
So while it sounds funny, this is our favorite version of “Silent Night.” Not only did we learn something, but it is easy to sing with and not feel out of place. After all, unlike singing with recordings of wonderful choirs, no one is ever going to accuse Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Waldorf and Stadler or any of the Muppets as having great voices, but yet it works.
This is the album version:
And the version as it appeared on the Christmas Special “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.”
To all our friends, to all those who don’t like us, to those at home, to those away, to those surrounded with loved ones, to those who are alone, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
Sleep, in heavenly peace.
Dec 24, 2017
Peanut: The Night Before Christmas” | Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special.
It isn’t “traditional,” but it’s funny!
Hope you are nestled safe, sound and warm with loved ones and that you have a very Merry Christmas!
Dec 23, 2017
Angels We Have Heard On High – Various Artists.
We really like this version “Angels We have Heard on High.” The song is from a 1988 album by various contemporary Christian artists. Every year since the release of this version of the song, we have played it on Christmas Day. We like the voices and the power behind the music.
We hope you do as well.
Dec 23, 2017
O Holy Night – Nat King Cole.
(So many great songs and not enough time left before Christmas!)
The great Nat King Cole in a Christmas classic.
Dec 22, 2017
Rudolph And Frosty – You Didn’t Think We’d Forget, Did You?
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without these two classics. (Well, it would still be Christmas, but for kids of all ages, these two songs make the holiday a little more fun.)
With regards to this version of “Frosty the Snowman,” we once again see that a person – in this case Jimmy Durante – does not need a great voice to sing a song in a great manner. It is like the Muppets. No one can seriously claim Durante or the Muppets can come close to great voices like Julie Andrews or Bing Crosby, but their voices work and resonate with us all because of that. We love to listen to great singers with great voices. We love singing with voices that aren’t so perfect.
