The Christmas Story

“At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.  And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.  He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.  He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.”

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her ^efirst child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  It was just as the angel had told them” (Luke 2:1-20, NLT).

Five Things You Should Know: Christmas Movies

On this day before Christmas Eve, it seemed like a good time to list my top five Christmas movies/specials:

1. A Christmas Story - Ralphie and his determined quest for a Red Rider B.B. Gun.  Along the way are flat tires, special “Italian” lamps, and tongues stuck to flag poles.  A classic.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charlie Brown goes looking for the real meaning of Christmas.  Forty years later, it is still the best.  A timeless classic (even though t.v. execs dismissed it as too religious).
3. Elf - Buddy the Elf pursues a relationship with his estranged father while getting acclimated to the “human” world.  Funny stuff and a great soundtrack to boot.
4. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas – Not the Jim Carey live action thing.  The original with Boris Karloff reading and Chuck Jones animating.
5. Scrooged – Bill Murray stars in a contemporary telling of A Christmas Carol.
6. Home Alone – “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”  One child left alone versus Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.

Wonderful Counselor

We seem awfully sophisticated anymore.  Sometimes we’re too sophisticated.  We don’t really stop to appreciate the magnificence of the things around us.  The sun and moon both rise and we don’t think a thing of it.  The stars dot the night skies and we are unfazed.  Yet, the ancient Hebrews had a word for all of those things.  It was the word pele’.  It spoke of all the things that God did that were beyond human ability.  In English, that word is wonderful.

 About seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the people of Israel were having tough times.  Things were not good.  Difficulties were coming upon them, yet the prophet Isaiah proclaims to the people of Israel that a new heir to the throne will change everything.  He tells of a coming messiah who will assume the leadership of His people.  And, he tells exactly what kind of person that messiah will be.  Isaiah says he will be different than the kings of the past.  His character will be different.  So will His counsel.  He will be extraordinary.  His words will convey a message greater than human capabilities.  He will be pele’.  He will be wonderful.  The prophet writes, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, HCSB).

 Kings would come and go.  Years would pass.  Then one night, the cries of a newborn pierce the night calm of a tiny hamlet named Bethlehem.  A child is born.  A son is given.  It is an extraordinary night.  He is an extraordinary child.  He is pele’.  He is wonderful.  He is wonderful in character and in counsel.  He is like no one else.  His person is exceptional.  His works are beyond compare.  His words are wonderful.  The crowds marvel at His teachings because He teaches as one having authority (Matthew 7:29).  Jesus is definitely a wonderful counselor.

 Jesus is still speaking today.  He is still reminding us of who He is and what He has done.  He is still demonstrating His extraordinary power and majesty.  His words still have meaning and power.  They make a difference.  His is not a voice that gets lost in the crowd.  His words do not fade away like so many others.  They mattered then.  They matter now.  His life and His counsel still change lives today.  He still gives hope and purpose.  He is pele’.  He is wonderful.

Little Things

Rome.  Cairo.  Nineveh.  Athens.  All great cities of antiquity.  Centers of power and majesty.  Places fitting for the birth of a king.  God, however, chose Bethlehem.  Bethlehem?!  That’s like opting for Mayberry over New York.  Picking Petticoat Junction over Chicago.  Choosing Smallville over Atlanta.  Bypassing Washington D.C. in favor of the capital of Lichtenstein.  Who would do such a thing?  Why would someone do such a thing?  Bethlehem?  You can’t be serious?!

 But that’s exactly what God did.  He chose a small village to be the birth place of the Savior.  Not a metropolis teeming with power.  Not a megacity flowing with money.  Not a lavish center of population.  An out-of-the-way hamlet.

 His choosing Bethlehem reveals to us something about God.  It is an intriguing reminder that God values things differently than we do.  We are impressed with glitz and glamor, size and wealth, power and influence.  We are in awe of the Londons and New Yorks of the world.  Just like we are impressed with gazillionaires, movie stars, and all-star athletes.  God, on the other hand, sees the small things.  He notices the guy who opens the door for the powerful.  The villages in the shadows of the skyscrapers.  The one among the millions. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  God sees the value of huge cities.  But don’t forget that God sees small things too.  They are important to Him.  Places that may not matter to others matter to God, just like people who may go unnoticed by others are noticed by God.  I matter to Him.  You matter to Him.  Among other things, Bethlehem reminds us that God uses the unimpressive in impressive ways.  He uses big and small to accomplish His will for His glory. 

“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me.  His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” – Micah 5:2, HCSB

An Ill Blogger, A Shameless Culture, and More on the Prosperity Gospel

I’ve been down sick all week, and I hopefully will be able to begin posting again next week.  Until then, I have come across a few things worth passing along.

In a culture with no absolutes, is it any wonder that we feel no shame or remorse for what we do?  Dr. Al Mohler works through the question ”whatever happened to shame?” in a recent post from his blog.  You can read it here.

Also, here are a few more posts on the so-called “prosperity” gospel.  The first is from John MacArthur.  It deals with the relationship of the recently deceased Oral Roberts with the movement.  You can read the article here. 

Ed Stetzer also posted on the subject in the past week.  He quotes Charisma editor Lee Grady’s strong opinions on the subject.  Grady powerfully compares the prosperity gospel and those who advocate it to medieval indulgences and those who sold them.  You can read Stetzer’s post here and you can check out Grady’s thoughts here.

John MacArthur, the Prosperity Gospel, and TBN

Did you know that Jesus wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and rich?  That’s what many walk away with when they embrace the “prosperity gospel.”  John MacArthur has some strong challenges to this concept and its promoters at Grace to You.

Eye Black, Faith, and Free Speech

I have recently read some strong criticism of players like Tim Tebow who write Bible verses on their eyeblack.  I’m not a huge fan of Tebow (because of the uniform he wears, not the faith he professes), but surely the kid has a right to simply profess his faith.  I’d find all the hostility towards the simple sharing of a Bible verse amusing, if it wasn’t so completely absurd.   Why is there such a strong reaction to what amounts to a strip of black tape with a few white letters and numbers on it?  If it were a Nike swoosh or an Adidas logo, no one would care.  If it said something like “healthcare for all,” people would applaud the athlete’s convictions and resolve.  But, put a simple thing like “John 3:16″ and some go nuts.  I’ll simply reply to these critics of free speech with the same advice they’ve given to professing Christians over the years:  If you don’t like what you see on television, change the channel.

Simple Things

A sunset.  A starry night.  The wind.  A breath.  A single step.  Things we encounter every day.  Things we all take for granted because they are routine.  And, at first glance, they are simple things.  It’s only when we look deeper at them do we begin to understand the marvel behind them.  It’s when we pause to ponder them that we are truly amazed.  It is then that we see the wonder of God.  His creative power demonstrated through simple, ordinary things. 

It’s amazing, however, that God uses simple things.  He often chooses them to magnify His power.  Think about the Christmas narrative for just a moment. Shepherds?  Nothing special.  A group of blue-collar guys.  Bethlehem?  To call it a village would be generous. A couple of engaged teenagers?  Right.  All simple.  All special because of how God used them.  The list stretches beyond this season.  Fishermen, tax-collectors, the poor, blind, deaf, and lame.  Again and again, all simple people who God used to demonstrate His power.  Even the gospel is a simple thing.  The apostle Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18, HCSB). 

Today, each of us has the opportunity to do something simple.  Don’t wait for a big way to serve.  God can make a big splash with a little water.  Let Him use you today in the simple things.  The children’s song says, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”  A simple light shines bright and makes a huge difference.  Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.  A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, HCSB, emphasis added).  May our lights shine brightly so that God is glorified in the simple things we do for Him.

The Enduring Myth of Star Wars

I took my ten-year old to see Star Wars in Concert last night.  If you are not familiar with the concept, it is Star Wars musical performed live as video segments play on a huge HD screen.  It was an awesome thing.  The London Philharmonic was amazing.  As I sat through the show, I remembered standing in line for hours to buy tickets to see the original movie.  I recalled the sheer excitement of sitting in the front row of the theatre hearing those familiar notes as the curtain rose on the opening scene.  And, I was reminded again just how much the Star Wars myth has permeated our culture.  Last night, I saw people from six to sixty were running around enjoying the exhibits and the performance. 

As I look at the current entertainment landscape, I don’t see another movie/myth penetrating our culture quite like this one.  Somehow, I don’t see thousands of people pouring into an arena to celebrate the Twilight series thirty years from now, nor do I see Transformers weaving its way into our psyches like Star Wars has.  It seems like George Lucas has truly created an enduring American myth.

The Texting Bible

It seems like every month, a new Bible or Bible translation comes out.  More and more, we seem to strive to place an easy to understand translation of Scripture into the hands of people.  While I often lament the drift from a more formal and literal rendering, I realize that this is probably a good and necessary thing (although at times, the cynic in me wonders about the marketing forces at work behind the scenes).  In light of our incessant efforts, I have begun to wonder when we will see the “Texting Bible.”  With all apologies to my kids, it could look something like this:

“4 God <33 peeps he gave his son that 1 blieves n him will not bih but have life 4eae ” (John 3:16)