Who Are These People?

Who are these people?

Huddled in the straw with the animals
Dirty and exhausted from a long journey
Unwed parents and poor

I have seen them
Among the glittering lights and tinsel
Immortalized in plaster and stained glass and stone
Who are they?

Who are these people?
Whose cause cities, states and countries
to argue over their very presence
Who cause the hearts of men and women to rejoice
Who are they?

Who is this Shepherd?
They say a lowly messenger.
What news did he carry
that created such a commotion throughout the world?

Why this star?
Shining so brightly above
They say signal, a guide
Where did it lead?

Who is this baby?
Lying in the dirty feeding trough
The center of it all
Who are these people?

I was shocked when asked this very question by foreign students visiting our home. I had never in 40 years been asked this and never expected to be asked. Doesn’t everyone already know? Throughout the world, there are people asking this question. In America, people are asking this question. Are we in danger of letting the Greatest Story Ever Told fade away? We must spread the news as the Shepherds did. The news that supernatural messengers of God appeared in the sky rejoicing and praising this little baby, announcing Him to be the Savior of the World to be worshipped by the meek and lowly. We must share that a star led travelers a great distance to find the child so that it could be worshipped by the learned people and the wealthy. We must tell how this child has not only changed world history, but how He has changed our personal life. We must tell. We must tell it on the mountain. We must sing “Joy to the World.” We must sing “Amazing Grace.” We must stand up when others stand against Him. We must dispel the misinformation, the misdirection, and the confusion. We must be as clear as the angels’ message and as bright as the star. It is the most important thing in the world that people know the answer to the question…. “Who are these people.”



Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

First of All

I had a unique opportunity to share a song in a memorial service for a lady in our community who passed away a month before her 111th birthday.  She was still living in a small apartment, tending to her affairs and enjoying the company of neighbors, family and friends.  God had blessed this woman with a long, healthy and productive life. She was until the very end of her life, able to communicate well and have a sound mind.  What a great blessing for this woman who was a Christian and planned her memorial service herself to honor God.  She chose a song called "My Savior First of All" about going to heaven and meeting friends and family, but that she longed to see Jesus first of all.  I remembered visiting with her several times, usually around Christmas and don't think I ever spoke to her when she wasn't smiling and having a friendly demeanor.  It just seemed that she would go on living forever, enjoying life.  As much as she did enjoy life, I had to remember that all of our lives are really a life of bondage and waiting for the ultimate freedom to come about through death and a release from these earthly bodies to be in the presence of God.  I always thought of Helen as being fortunate for living so long on the earth in good health and she may have often thought the same thing.  But, looking back today from the throne room of heaven, in the midst of family and friends who went on before, she may be saying, "I wouldn't have minded coming sooner."  However, I know that every one of her approx. 40,130 days on earth God had a plan for her to be here.  She impacted those she knew at the turn of the 20th century and the turn of the 21st century.  She is greatly missed.
     My family and I have pondered the many things she must have seen.   When she was a little girl, she often spoke with her grandfather who was a veteran of the Civil War.  When she was my daughter Allie's age, the news of the day was the sinking of the Titanic.  When she was Laura's age, WWI had just ended.  When she was my age, the US had just been drawn into WWII by the attack on Pearl Harbor.   When my wife and I were married in 1991, She had already celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her second husband three years earlier in 1988 and was still alive when we celebrated our 20th anniversary.  She saw from horse and buggy to moon landing,  one room schoolhouse to online college,  from the founding of the Kodak company in 1901 to the digital photo slideshow projection we used to celebrate her life in pictures at church.  I can only say that hers was an amazing life.  She had seen probably more things on earth than most of us.  Her final wish for her memorial service was that it be shared through song that of all the things she has seen on earth, when she went to heaven she longed to see "My Savior First of All."
My Savior First of All -Youtube

Catch-up

An entire summer has flown by since my last post.  I have finally hit a day in the last 5 months where I have a moment to write.  I have been busy and quite frankly, I have been in an extended "mood."  We have had two week-long Bible schools, two week-long camps, a couple of weddings, remodeling work on a house, helping a daughter re-evaluate and re-apply to college, Sue's mom had surgery and she went to be with her for several weeks, we have had an action filled summer of activities at church, and I somehow forgot to schedule in a vacation somewhere.
     I am happy that my wife made a great effort to get me out of town for an evening in Kansas City.  We went to the movies, ate at the Outback and stayed overnight in a hotel near the airport.  I am glad she took the time to set all of that up and get me there, because it was just what I needed.  I love helping people.  It really makes me feel great.  I sometimes forget, however, that God planned for us to take a break on a regular basis.  Since my Sunday is filled with activity of ministry, I need to schedule a day for decompression and reflection.  Actually I have already done that, but I usually end up using it as a time to do all of the things I did not have time for.  "God created the Sabboth for man, not man for the sabboth." (Mark 2:27)  God knows we need to take time away from even the things we love to do.
So, I am headed home.  Call if you really need me, but otherwise, I am cancelling my overtime.   See everyone on Sunday!

Sun and Rain

I have often heard people comment when something annoying happens that "God brings rain on the just and unjust alike."  They are commenting that "well, we all have to go through these things."  In reading through Matthew chapter 5, I realized that that is a very un-contextual way to use that scripture.  Jesus is speaking about how we should live our lives in relation to other people.  He is telling us that we should not only love our friends, but our enemies.  We should treat everyone with love and generosity.  His comparison is that we should do this because that is what God does.  He gives good sunshine and rain to everyone no matter how they are living their lives.  They are all treated with these good things in nature.  Isn't it just like us to take something positive like that scripture and turn it into a way to complain?  Thank you God that you bring the sun and rain to nurture us even when we don't deserve it.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.   Matthew 5:44-45