The Stable

The Lord Jesus was not born in a stable due to poverty. No, Joseph was a worker. All evidence points to a man who provided well for his family.
Jesus was born in a stable due to circumstances. A Bethlehem swollen beyond its capacity to provide lodging – an arrival slowed by a near term pregnancy – no room anywhere, except a stable.
For Jesus to have entered anywhere else in Bethlehem that night would have meant displacing somebody. That is not Jesus’ style – not then; not now. His desire is to enter the hearts of a cold world. That is his desire, but He will not move someone aside and just enter their lives. He will never enter without a welcome, but when he is welcomed, those people receive the right to be known as the children of God.
The joy of Christmas is not that a baby came to a manger. The joy of Christmas is that a Savior comes into a heart. Feliz Natal! Merry Christmas!

On Political Correctness

There was once a time, not too long ago, when there was no debate about Christmas. TV talk shows did not interview people about why they don’t want to use “Merry Christmas” as a greeting. Merchants did not feel that they needed to be innocuous or generic. That has apparently changed – though Target, Sears and Lowe’s have recently changed their minds (commercial though they may be) and have begun to use the word “Christmas” again.

What is more intriguing to me is the reaction of the Christian community. Some are angry; others plan boycotts of merchants who aren’t using the word “Christmas”. Isn’t there a larger truth underlying all of this? That truth is that we are failing to reach our own country with the life-changing message that began in a stable – a message that Immanuel has come – a message that began with angels singing but must be proclaimed today by those who believe in Jesus, the one who came to save His people from their sins. It is hypocritical to be angry with Wal-Mart because they don’t use the word “Christmas” when God did not commit responsibility to preach this good news to Wal-Mart. He gave it to us. As we enjoy this holiday season, let’s look for opportunity after opportunity to explain the message of the manger.

Carol and Dennis were away for several days last week to celebrate Thanksgiving with her parents. I had a good Thanksgiving celebration with my parents and brother, but that doesn’t mitigate the circumstances that my house was empty (save for the dog and cat). The Lord said it best: “it is not good for man to be alone”. My aloneness was temporary. Wife, child, dog and cat are all back where they should be.

We are entering the season of year where loneliness becomes more pronounced for many people. It was for those kinds of people that the Lord came and it is for those kinds of people that we need to watch during these days. The season of giving should be the season of sharing the Reason with those who are lonely. And what a gift we have to give: The only true gift that keeps on giving…. eternally.

Among churches, what is greatness? I've reflected on this after returning from a conference. A common phenomenon happened throughout the conference. Introductions were made. Pastors were referred to as "the pastor of one of our greatest churches." I find these words strangely disturbing -- not only because of the content of their message but also because of their source.

Pastors are stewards of truth -- separated by the Lord to rightly divide the Word of Truth and to make it relevant to life. Our content needs to be reflective of THE content. Even when we speak gracious words, we need to be careful to speak true words.

So, what is the truth? Christ died for the church because of His love for her. Every local church that preaches truth and ministers to those who have been redeemed by the Blood share in that love. We represent not many brides, but one Bride. Greatness, then, should never be measured by size, activity or facility. Greatness flows from our union with Christ.

John Martz - In Memoriam

The number of days, or weeks, or months or years can’t calculate the sum of a man’s life. Sadly, many men reach their three score and ten, or more, and never really live. They pass the time; they interact with the physical world – but they never meet Life. Last week my friend, John Martz moved out of the physical world. At 59, he missed the three score and ten by a few years. Make no mistake though – John not only knew Life, but he knew how to live. A number of years ago, John invited me to come and teach in his TEE center in Oshakati, Namibia. John would bring his leaders in for weekend seminars – lasting Friday afternoons and evenings and all day Saturday. For both sessions, he would drive and pickup all the students and take them home afterwards – probably 60 miles at a stretch. The roads he traveled were some of Namibia’s most dangerous and he drove them at their most dangerous, but confident that the Lord would protect him. He told me, laughing sadly as he said it, that between Oshakati and Ondangwa (the next town 20 miles away) were more than 5000 bottle stores. (For the uninitiated, a bottle store is a place to drink alcoholic beverages – usually to excess.) He did this time and again over the course of several years, sacrificially, to give his leaders the grounding in the Word that they need for ministry. We spent time with John, Sarah and family in July at our cluster meeting in South Africa. Just like old times, I found myself talking with John over coffee. Jokes flew. Remembrances of times gone by; nothing earth shattering, but lots of what life (and Life) is about. John knew how to live and helped to make it enjoyable for those who were around him.