Recently the well-known celebrity and international entertainer Evel Knievel died at the age of 69.  Immortilized in the Smithsonian Institute as "America's Legendary Daredevil" Knievel suffered nearly 40 broken bones from his spectacular motorcycle jumps.  To Knievel, there always were mountains to climb, bigger challenges to conquer.

Stealing a page from radio personality Paul harvey, here is the 'rest of the story', always a surprise ending.  In recent years God had been at work in Knievel's life.  He found salvation in Jesus Christ.  As a result Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral invited him for a guest interview on "The Hour of Power".  At the end of the interview, Evel Knievel asked if he could be baptized - right there, that morning.  After he was baptized, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Friend of Dial Hope, the promise of Christmas is the promise of joy an dhope and transformation.  We hold the shattered pieces of our lives in our trembling hands like an heirloom ornament dropped from a great height.  God breaks into our lives and makes us whole.  In the deep dazzling darkness of a winter night Jesus baptizes us with the light of God's love.  Believe that and claim it.

Prayer:  God of love, there is a time to be born and a time to die.  And this is the time to be born.  As you entered time in Jesus the Christ be born in us today and lead us to the light of your love.  Be with those who are traveling today.  Bring healing to those who are ill.  Through the amazing grace of Jesus.  Amen.