Christmas, The Virgin Birth

Not, "Did you get What you wanted for Christmas, But, "Did you Learn something from Christmas?

Even before it had taken place, people struggled to accept the miracle of the Virgin Birth of Christ.   The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. . . .  Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:30-34, emphasis added)   We all know where babies come from. It's what twelve-year-old boys snicker about, fathers of teen girls worry about, and what makes it, when it is done right, such a wonderful concept. Women don't get pregnant without the involvement of a man. During Jesus earthly life, His enemies used this as an insult. You can see the sneer on the faces of the Pharisees when "They said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication'" (John 8:41). Down through the centuries, the sneering and ridicule have continued. It hasn't taken the Lord by surprise. Kathy and I received news that some friends of ours just had the first Baby born in 2018 in Wellington New Zealand. As I look at Oksana's picture, I am struck with the miracle of any birth. The same God Who sovereignly oversees his universe so that the meeting of ovum and sperm brings a new and unique life into existence is well capable of providing the genetic material needed for a new life, without the involvement of a man. Having said that, though, there is no getting around (and I'm not trying to get around it) the fact that God chose to bring His unique son into this world in a unique way. From the get-go it is clear that what we consider miraculous is just a day at the office for our great God. Part of the angel's reply to Mary was, "[N]othing will be impossible with God." Restoring a sin-cursed creation, bringing people dead in sin to life--everlasting life--in Christ, and calling out a people who will be God's special people are tasks that require supernatural power. God made known, even in the conception of His Son as a human, that the Trinity is up for the task. "A virgin will conceive." is not merely an arcane point of doctrine for Theologians to argue about in their towers of ivory. It is a reality that makes clear the fact that our Savior comes with supernatural power to accomplish that which is clearly beyond us. This Christmas I learned that God is able. It's STTA (Something To Think About).  If you'd like to read some stuff that a Theologian friend of mine wrote about the Virgin Birth, click here. By the way, I've been to Jim's house, and He's been a guest in my home on Guam. He doesn't even have an ivory tower, though he has been known to argue.

Water

Something To Think About Water:

This evening I did something that I’ve never done before.  I stood in line to get water.  I can remember, visiting some of my old relatives when I was a child, where we had to draw water from the well.  There have been a few times, either when I was working on the plumbing or when there was a brief interruption to our utility service, when nothing came out when I turned the spigot.  But this is a different matter.  The El Nino weather pattern has brought drought conditions to Micronesia that combined with the increase in tourism to the tiny nation of Palau has created a real shortage.  Our water goes on and off by a schedule passed down from the government.  We are fortunate, some of our friends have basically no water.  Their water come “on,” but by the time the limited pressure brings water to their faucet it is already turned off.  Most people in this region either filter their water, or buy it.  That’s why I was lined up tonight, at one of the only places you can go to get your jug refilled. It has already caused me to think differently about H2O.  From taken for granted to precious in one leap. Water was—still is—precious in Israel, the land of the Bible.  Perhaps that is why the Bible often uses water as a picture for the blessings that God gives.  In just a quick count I spotted something like fifteen times in the book of Psalms that water is symbol of blessing.  Here is one example. “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” (Psalm 63:1–4, NASB95) In the New Testament the image continues.  Jesus gives this marvelous invitation. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”  (John 7:38, NASB95) Standing in line with my empty jugs, I was thinking about that.  I hope you have plenty of water.  I encourage you to join me in praying for the islands of Micronesia.  Most of all, I encourage you to consider the offer of an endless supply of living water from our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s STTA. Find information about Living Water here.

A Longing that Nothing Else Can Satisfy

Something To Think About

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT One of my favorite Christmas songs cause a pain in the core of being.  I'm not a masochist, but it is a good feeling. Longing is a concept that is foreign to our instant-this-instant-that, WIFI-enabled, globe-at-our-fingertips world.  Yet all of that Get-R-Done immediacy is far too often a covering--one with holes, I might add--for deep needs within. Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel   I imagine Anna and Simeon--representative of the Old O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Testament faithful--singing those words, no, not singing, groaning them in heart-rending words of prayer.  Israel needs to be ransomed spiritually far more than politically.  They longed to see the fulfillment of Isaiah, and the other prophets words, "Unto us a child is born . . . a son is given . . . His government and its peace will never end."  Nothing else will do.  We long, with unimaginable longing for the fulfillment of the promise.   The song goes on though and speaks of the longings that are in the hearts of all Adam's children.  We all need to be freed from Satan's tyranny.  Amusement, and Jingle-bell  happiness abounds; what the hymn describes as "cheer" for our hearts, and the Bible describes as joy, is in short supply. Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel  by The Franz Family We are very open to the coming of the softly lit babe in the manger who warms our hearts like a cup of chocolate with a marshmallow, but the song speaks of a "Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe."  No smiling child can meet the need of humanity, or the longing that achingly resides in the heart of every woman and man.  The "Rejoice, Rejoice," refrain of the hymn does not speak of merely an infant.  God did not send a baby to make us feel better.  He gave His Son to meet our deepest need, and change us so we could become what we were made to be--worshippers of the God of the Universe.  That, and that alone, satisfies our longings.  (Cue the choir in your mind, Hallelujah Chorus.)    It's STTA.   Find lot's of information about how God stepped into our world to meet needs we cannot meet on our own, here.

Christmas, It's Providential:

Providence is God working in the background to accomplish what He wants done in the fore.
Consider the process by which Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem.  Luke, excellent historian that he is, records:

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus,

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David," (Luke 2:1-4, NASB95)  

We can be sure that neither Caesar, nor any of his underlings had any interest in the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, but his decree accomplished just that.  More than half a millennium before Jesus birth Micah made the prediction made famous in the Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem.   

. . . as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2, NASB95)  

Caesar wanted what all political rulers want--more tax.  Quirinius and the other functionaries wanted their cut and to toady up to Caesar so they could maintain their comfortable position.  In spite of the announcements by the Angels (Luke 1 and Matthew 1) I doubt that Joseph or Mary put it all together--"Oh, yeah, our son is going to be the Messiah.  Micah says he is supposed to born in Bethlehem.  That's what all this is about."  More likely their response was like yours or mine when we are forced to jump through some unreasonable bureaucratic hoop.  At this point I'll avoid putting unflattering words in the mouths of Mary and Joseph.
Bottom line:  Nobody on earth knew what was happening, but God was providentially accomplishing His will in totally unseen ways.
He still is. 

It's STTA. 

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Mud!

My older son is fond of reminding me that I married over my head. He is right. One of the qualities my lovely wife possesses is her "togetherness." When she goes out of the house--and most of the time when she is in it--she looks together. Today was an exception.


Her shoes were coated with mud and her pants splattered with the same. Her hair, usually well coifed, was suffering from the effects of humidity. It has nothing to do with her giving it all up, rather the explanation is that she was involved in something messy, but important.

Friday evening, 12/9, 6:00, we present the first night of our Live Nativity. Kathy is in charge of a significant portion of the set up. We just came through a three day soaking, so mud abounds. There was an important task to be done, and in order to do it she had to get muddy. We are remembering, celebrating, and encouraging our community to consider the meaning of the coming of Christ to earth. The Apostle Paul says about that unique birth that "Christ Jesus, who . . . existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [selfishly clung to], but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) The book of Hebrews says that He became, other than sin, completely like us (Hebrews 2:14, & 4:14-16).

He got down in the mud with us, that He might lift us out.

It's STTA.