While You Were Sleeping

Today’s editorial message is short and sweet. While we’re opening gifts, eating, drinking, and being merry, let’s not forget what happened over 2000 years ago in a little town in Israel. Take about three minutes to listen to this beautiful and thought-provoking song, written by Mark Hall and recorded by Casting Crowns.

While You Were Sleeping

O little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight
Tonight

O Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
O Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold, trying to keep the Savior warm

Born among the animals, wrapped in dirty rags

Because there was no room for Him

In the world He came to save,

O Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man and stepped into your world today

O Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America, looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night
In the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping?
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay?
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King?
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?

United States of America, looks like another silent night

For many of us, especially those of us who may be on the downhill slope of our lives here on earth, a familiar complaint is that Christmas (or kids these days, or television, or Coca-Cola, or life in general, etc.) isn’t the same as it was back in “the good ol’ days.” Maybe not, but today is what we’ve got, so let us ensure that we don’t become hypnotized by the “philosophies that save the trees and kill the children.” Please, God, keep us from becoming a nation that is remembered for having no room for You, and God, may we truly become one nation devoted to You.

From the editorial staff of AFNN, we wish you a Merry Christmas!