While reading Mark 5:1-20 this morning I struggled to find deeper meaning to the story. Jesus healed a demon-possessed man.  I get that, but why did He have to destroy the pigs to do so.  By doing so, the herdsman lost their ability to earn an income.  They lost part, perhaps a large part if not all, of their wealth.  Because I sometimes struggle with practical realism, that does not make complete sense to me. 

Then I read the story closer.  When Jesus sent the demons into the pigs, the herdsman scattered.  Their devastation drove them into the city to tell what had happened.  This brought all the people to Jesus to witness the miracle of the healed man.  Jesus brought glory to Himself and honor to God and helped some people believe that day by His willingness to sacrifice a herd (a large herd) of pigs. 

Therefore, here is my understanding of truth today: Jesus is willing to sacrifice the economy in order to save some souls.  He cares more about people, than even personal finances. (I know that is potentially shocking to many Americans.) 

Is any of that truth applicable to my life (and yours) today? 

It was a slower blog-reading week, but here are a few items that caught my attention this week and caused me to think. 

Burger King launches beef-scented body spray. I guess some women really like steak.  It would seem though like this might work better for women to attract men than for men to attract women. 

From the “give me a break” department, the two white boys accused of plotting to kill President-elect Obama say they want a new grand jury, because there weren’t enough white people on the jury they got.  Read the story here.  Do they not realize that decent moral white people still think it’s wrong to plot to kill? 

Joshua Griffin shares 52 Links Every Youth Worker Needs.  I sent this to our staff, because there is something for everyone here. 

Seth Godin’s point-well-made post this week is a fun but sobering reminder of the importance in planning your future.  Read it HERE.

Finally, Seth Godin’s post listing the most popular posts of the year provides an easy way to glean some quick knowledge or inspiration from one of today’s leading culture gurus.  Read it HERE.   

What did you find interesting this week?

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19 NIV
 
Most of us have a nativity set sitting around for Christmas. If your nativity set is like most I’ve seen, you no doubt have a few animals sitting around it. There may be a cow or two, a sheep, even a camel if it is a fancy set! Of course, Joseph and Mary placed Jesus in a manger, which is a feeding troth for animals, so there certainly would have been an animal or two close to the scene.  I wonder if the nativity scene were to take place in modern day America if there may be a puppy dog nearby.  (My yorkie dog would have loved the baby Jesus!) 
 
It shouldn’t surprise us that animals may have witnessed the birth of the Christ child. Jesus was the Creator. He was with God from the very beginning, planning each intricate part of Creation. All creation, with the exception of man, naturally glorifies the Creator by unconditional obedience. A cow does as a cow is supposed to do. A camel is a camel is a camel. You don’t have to train a bird to tweet, it does as it was created to do.
 
The creation waits in eager expectation for God’s Son to be revealed! This was the Creator! This was their Master, the Inventor of life!  
 
I once read a story about a mother who found her nativity scene continually disrupted.  She would enter the room to find all the pieces in one big pile. She would straighten it, only to find it messed up a few hours later. One day she witnessed her daughter piling the pieces together. When questioned, the little girl replied, “Mommy, it’s Christmas! Everyone wants to be real close to Jesus!”
 
It’s Christmas! Don’t be surprised that the animals were present at Jesus birth! And keep them close in your nativity! Creation is praising its Creator!
 
And don’t be surprised if you see a smile on a animal or two on Christmas day! 

The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said. Luke 2:20

Are you “glorifying and praising God” this Christmas? As we enter yet another Christmas celebration, will you use it to strengthen your trust and passion for God? Christmas was about sending Jesus to live among us so that He could pay the penalty for our sins, but even more than that, Christmas, like everything else God has made, was to give God glory.

Stop for just a moment and think about God. God is so big that He spoke a universe into existence. That same God sacrificed His only Son so that you and I could find our way back to Him. Can you love a God like that? Can you serve a God like that? Does your life and celebration this year reflect the depth of your love?

What could you do this Christmas that would give God glory? Could you extend grace to someone who does not deserve grace? Could you love an unlovable person? Could you forgive someone who has severely wronged you, even though your first desire is not to forgive? Could you share God’s love with someone, even if it is uncomfortable?

Why not give God glory and praise for Christmas this year? He gave us Jesus!

Sunday was an amazing day. I saw some people take next steps in their faith. Since then I’ve continued to hear reports from the day.  We don’t do things like every other church in town.  We reach people other churches do not reach.  (Other churches reach people we cannot reach.)  I am thankful to be a part of such a powerful team.  In three years, meeting in rented space with limited funds at times, God has done incredible things. I’m humbled and grateful. 

Two pictures.  One is our incredible tech and stage team and the other is me trying to make a point.  I think you can tell which is which.  Merry Christmas!  

Now for a little Christmas cheer!  Yes, indeed, Jesus is a friend of mine. I am so glad.  Merry Christmas!

But your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NIV

Why do we need Christmas? Have you ever thought about that question? Probably not! If the truth be known, you, like me, are just so busy “doing” Christmas, and enjoying it to, that you haven’t stopped to consider the reason for the celebration.

Now, I am not talking about the “reason for the season”. You have no doubt seen and heard that. People have been wearing pins with that on it for two weeks and you know that it is to celebrate the birth of a Savior, but why did He need to be born?

Here’s why: (and, please, don’t miss this point this Christmas season) We need Christmas because with out it we are going to Hell! Now you’re thinking, “what does Hell have to do with Christmas?”.

Without Christmas, without the baby in a manger, the virgin birth, the shepherds in the field at night, the presents wrapped, the bills to be paid, the parties to attend, the expanded waistline….okay…you get the idea….without all the neat things that make Christmas what Christmas is, we would be eternally lost. See, all of us are lost, without hope, because we all have sin in our life. We are born into sin and can do nothing to rid ourselves of the sin habit.

God is Holy, as you know, and so He cannot tolerate any sin. None! He will not hear us through our sin and so, if we remain in our sin, we remain forever separated from God.

But then there is Christmas, Praise God! Jesus did come on that dark night some 2000 years ago! He came so that through Him we can be saved, completely forgiven of our sins, and enter the presence of a Holy God!

There is a Christmas! We need Christmas! Thank God for Christmas today!

I love to study the images of Christmas. This year a new image came to me; one I had not considered before, which really is the combination of two images I have studied many times.

Image One:

Luke 2:7 says, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

There was no room for them in the Bethlehem hotel.  This fact often reminds me that sometimes my life is too “crowded” for Christ.  I have great intentions for my relationship with Him, but often I choose my “pleasures” over time with Him.  Sad to admit, but if I am honest, and you were to look at my schedule many days, it could be said of me that I have “no room” for Christ. 

Image Two:

Luke 2:8-9 says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” 

The shepherds remind me that God first appeared with the news of His Son to those who society considered outcasts.  I have read that the courts refused shepherds testimonies in a court of law because they considered them untrustworthy. Shepherds appeared at the bottom of the social status, but they made themselves available to the Christ child.  It reminds me that although I have needed more grace than most pastors His grace is fully available even to me! 

Image Three:

I have never combined the above two images.  Think about this for a moment.  The fact that the inn had no room may have been necessary in order for the shepherds to receive the announcement.  Imagine if there had been room in the inn.  The shepherds would not have been able to visit the Christ child.  They would have had to find a place to take a bath, change clothes, and probably change their occupation if they had a hope of seeing Him. As shepherds, they would have been welcome in a barn, but not in the Bethlehem “Hyatt”.   

It is a great reminder to me this Christmas that God comes to those who do not deserve His presence or His love.  Immanuel presents Himself in places the “good people” never go!  He loves people the world has rejected and He makes Himself available without regard to our background, our reputation, the gossip about us, or even our smelliness. 

This year I am more thankful than ever that there was “no room for them in the inn.”

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV

Heaven: Streets of Gold! Angels Rejoicing! No Tears! Perfect Harmony! Bright Morning Star! Love Abounds! Mansions of Glory! No Pain! Everlasting Joy! Heavenly Father! Peace! Comfort! Victory! Sweet Fragrance! Warmth!

Bethlehem: cold. dark. crying. no blanket. no room. animal smells. struggles of life. heartaches. temptation. work. strife. bitterness. envy. prejudice. hatred. murder. anger. lust. sin.

Jesus gave up the wealth of Heaven and all its benefits to come to a world that had basically rejected its Creator, so that you and I, though lost in our sin, separated from Him because of our poverty of iniquities, can experience the richness of Eternity with Him in Heaven. Jesus gave up everything. He literally became sin so that we could receive forgiveness from the sin we cast upon His back.

You will no doubt see a nativity scene this Christmas. Go over to it, paying careful attention to the Christ child. Try to picture that baby some 2000 years ago lying in that cold, dark manger, realizing what Heaven had lost for Bethlehem to gain a Savior.

He became poor so that we could become rich. Your inheritance is waiting. Jesus paid it all! The reading of the will happen soon. Are you in it?

I have read these two poems numerous times in devotionals and online.  I have never seen a copyright on them, but they are attributed to Ann Weems.  The story I have heard is that she is a minister’s wife who lost her son to murder though I could not confirm that online.  Here poems speak, however, to the heart many feel this time of year as they attempt to celebrate Christmas with a heavy heart.  Perhaps she expresses your heart too. 

Yesterday’s Pain

In the godforsaken, obscene quicksand of life,
there is a deafening alleluia
rising from the souls of those who weep,
and of those who weep with those who weep.
If you watch, you will see
the hand of God
putting the stars back in their skies
one by one
Yesterday’s Pain
Some of us walk in Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays
the pain still stabbing
the hurt still throbbing.
It’s not that we don’t know better;
it’s just that we can’t stand up anymore by ourselves.
On the way of Bethlehem, will you give us a hand?

Not celebrate?
Your burden is too great to bear?
Your loneliness is intensified during this Christmas season?
Your tears have no end?
Not celebrate?
You should lead the celebration!
You should run through the streets
to ring the bells and sing the loudest!
You should fling the tinsel on the tree,
and open your house to your neighbors, and call them in to dance!
For it is you above all others who know the joy of Advent.
It is unto you that a Savior is born this day,
One who comes to lift your burden from your shoulders,
One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes.
You are not alone,
for He is born this day to you.