As I reflect upon Christmas this year I marvel at a God who would choose first the humility of a stable and then the humiliation of the cross to reveal to us a mystery hidden from the foundation of th... View MoreAs I reflect upon Christmas this year I marvel at a God who would choose first the humility of a stable and then the humiliation of the cross to reveal to us a mystery hidden from the foundation of the world.
It violates our sensibilities to think that this can be so. Because of this we have built a narrative around the story that does not really reflect the reality of the event.
Now we see a vision as portrayed in classic art. We see the babe dressed in purple complete with halo holding a scepter. We see the star shining down upon him like a spotlight with all the angels gathered together in the clouds. We see the three wise men dressed in finery worshiping him. It is a beautiful nativity seen.
The reality however is nothing like this. What you would have seen that night were two poor desperate refugees in a barn with a babe wrapped in rags. There was nothing there to draw your attention. There were no wise men and no little drummer boy. Yes some humble shepherds did show up because of a vision God had given them, but again, God chooses to reveal his glory to poor herdsman in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. Certainly this is not the way we would introduce the king of creation to a fallen and broken race.
Yet this is the way he came and none of us would have noticed or cared unless God gave us the ears to hear the angels or the eyes to see a king wrapped in rags. This is the real miracle of Christmas.
So, this Christmas if you are seeking him try looking in poor and humble places. Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear. Maybe you will find that miracle that most fail to notice.
And, I say with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest and peace and goodwill to all men”
Merry Christmas!
John O.
A stranger down on church street asked, “how many churches have you got?”
I said I’d have to think because we really got a lot
There’s this one, and there's that one, and another over there... View MoreA stranger down on church street asked, “how many churches have you got?”
I said I’d have to think because we really got a lot
There’s this one, and there's that one, and another over there
But this one don’t like that one, and that one don’t like this one. The other doesn’t care
We got a black one and a white one and one that’s in-between. We got a fancy one where people go only to be seen.
We got one where they speak in tongues and dance and twirl around and another where they’ll put you out if you even make a sound
We got one that claims you need a priest and one that says you don’t. We got one that says that God will heal and one that says He won’t.
We got one that believes in everything and there are many paths, we got one that says you sprinkle and one says take a bath.
We got one that has a smoke machine that puts on quite a show they are practicing for when God appears if it happens let me know.
The woke one says I must repent for stuff my granddad did and that I must surely be a raciest for the color of my skin.
I think this gives you many choices with lot’s of folks and many voices.
With lots of rules and things to try to please the guy up in the sky.
The tally is too hard to tell, but I hope that you find one soon with that I wish you well
As I look back at the stranger, he asked if I was done, He shared with me a secret.
The answer's only one
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