A little boy was preparing for the Annual Christmas pageant in his church, and the beginning of white gifts to the King. As his mom was helping him with his part, he interrupted the rehearsal of his lines, saying, "Mom, can't we change the story this year. It's the same story every year."

Well it is! But what a story. We have to guard against our familiarity with the story blinding us to the richness of it.

There was a young missionary couple who were going out on their first assignment to take over a pair from a pair of retiring veteran missionaries. Among the pieces of advice given the rookies was this: "Take whatever pictures you are going to take in the first six months you are here; after that you will forget what the folks back home would like to see. You will become so accustomed …