It wasn't December. It was June. There were no sheep, camels, or cattle anywhere close by. Certainly no one was around that I would particularly characterize as wise. There were no stars visible; as I remember there was a bright blue, early-summer sky overhead.
Posen Illinois, June 2012, the day Jesus came to Howard Merrell.
The Bible speaks about conversions. The most famous is that of Saul of Tarsus. Later, in the middle of the night, Paul, as he was now known, led a Roman jailer through the transition. Some try to make the point that the thief on the cross was already a believer. I rather doubt it. One of the saddest accounts in the Bible has to do with the rich young ruler who went away unconverted, and sad.
The fact that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, will not help you, unless you have been born again as a result of Jesus Christ coming to you through faith.
Sure, we conduct the Live Nativity as a way of counteracting the secularization of our society. Santa is present wall-to-wall, 24/7. We want to give the Gospel account of Jesus Birth a place in our community. But we pray that there will be more than, "So that is what it is about." or, "It is good to be reminded." reactions. We won't twist anyone's arm, that isn't what the Bible teaches, but we do hope and pray that folk will have that "Christmas in my heart" experience as a result of what they hear and see, and the work of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
O Come to my heart Lord Jesus
There is room in my heart for Thee.
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| From 6:00 - 8:00 nightly |
Come, bring your family, enjoy, learn. We pray it will be part of the reason some come to believe, or find their faith strengthened.
It's STTA.
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