ADVENT 2023 - Blog #7: December 9

HOPE.

What an amazing gift - to have hope. Not just hopeful, wishful thinking, but a hope that is absolute. Born-again Christians have that.  Our HOPE in Jesus is an absolute assurance that He is our salvation, and that we will be with Him for all of eternity. A very blessed hope, indeed!

Jesus came from glory - fully God, to be congruently fully human. His coming brought the fruition of hope into the world. Prior to his coming, the Jewish faithful were hopeful - but they hadn't seen the embodiment of that hope. Sadly, many did not recognize Jesus as the ONE who was promised - but they will when he returns again at his Second Coming. 

When I was on a tour of Israel in 2011, our Jewish tour guide told our group that when Yeshua comes they are going to ask him, "Is this your first time or your second time coming?" I love that they are still watching for him - but sad for those who do not believe he already came as the little babe, born in a stable in Bethlehem. 

And I am grateful that Yeshua came - and that we as Gentiles were welcomed to be adopted into the family of God. Yeshua means Salvation. 

May the HOPE that came alive with the baby born in a stable and placed in a manger, with the sounds of cattle lulling him to sleep, give you hope. Not wishful thinking. HOPE! 

A little P S:  The other thing that was poignantly clear after my first visit to Israel several years earlier, was that their stables were caves under their homes. We got to go down into the caves below the Church of the Nativity so I have a visual of what that must have been like when the Innkeeper told Mary & Joseph 'there is no room in the inn, but we can put you safely down in the cattle stall, in the cave below the house!' 

I am visual learner - so I love having that visual clearly imprinted in my mind.

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #6: December 8

Hannukah began last evening at sunset. Religious Jews always count the change of day as beginning at sunset (or some may choose dark) because when God created the world He said, "And the evening and the morning were the first...2nd...3rd....etc. day. Those of us who use the Gregorian Calendar use midnight as the change of day. 

In addition - just as a little tidbit of information, the Jewish calendar months are always 30 days long. To keep the seasons intact, every few years they add another month, which means after Adar, they have Adar 2. The Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with a 366-day year every 4 years to accomplish the same result. The point in sharing that is to explain that the 1st day of Hanukkah always begins on the 25th of Kislev, which is only possible because of the consistent 30-day months.

Hannukah (aka Chanukah) honors the successful revolt of the Maccabees in 164 B C when the small band of Jews was able to defeat the Greeks and reclaim the temple. Today the event celebrates the rededication of the 2nd temple and lasts 8 days. It is "The Festival of Lights" and commemorates a miracle when just a small jar of oil lasted 8 days so the Menorah could stay lit for the eight days. 

So - Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate this 8-day event! We serve a God who still performs miracles! 

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #5: December 7

ANTICIPATION! 

That's the thrill of Advent - and a huge part of the joy in any happy "happening". Looking forward to the fulfillment of events, hopes, dreams. It is also one of the significant joys of looking forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. That "hope" has been the confidence and security of many who have gone before us. 

Mary and Joseph obviously experienced anticipation. What an event to look forward to. We aren't privy to their conversations or how everything unfolded for them - but since we know Mary "stored up everything in her heart" we know that it was on her mind - and if it was on her mind, it logically also would have been on Joseph's mind. 

I love recalling the great anticipation our kids had when they were young as they looked forward to Christmas, wondering if they'd get the one special gift they most hoped for. I want to have that same excitement of anticipation in looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus - and even more, I want to have a feeling of anticipation in looking forward with enormous joy and anticipation to his Second Coming. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus. 

And if we think we can give good gifts - WOW! God gave us his one and only Son, literally God incarnate (born in the flesh), and God named his son Yeshua, which means "Salvation". 

Thank you, Lord! 

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #4: December 6

Advent includes many wonderful opportunities - and yesterday was one of mine! I sing with a small group of friends. Both last year and this year we were invited to lead Christmas Carols for the PrimeTimers (over 60 group) at my church. Both years the organizers for the group have titled this event Cookies & Carols. Singing with this group is - as I refer to it - my candy!

The pianist, bass player, alto and I all went to college together at what is now Northwest University in Kirkland, WA (in the 1960's when we were in school it was Northwest College); and our guitar player is a brother-in-law to the bass player, and a dear friend to all of us. It is pure joy to get to sing together now - with all of us over 75 years of age! (Out of the group three of us were 78 in 2023.)

We also have had the joy of being joined by a lovely girl who is a high school Senior this year (who just happens to be the daughter of the Senior Pastor of the church.) She performs on the piano doing both our pre-service and post-service music, as well as performing one special piano piece at the beginning of our official program; and we had 4 violinists - a mother and her 2 young sons, and another very talented lady. Truly we have a lot of fun doing it, and the audience participation is an added joy. 

Our teenage young woman started the program with a piano solo, followed by two songs on violin by the 2 young boys and their mother.

Our vocal musical selections included the following songs:

Jingle Bells

Let it Snow

White Christmas 

(Both Let it Snow and White Christmas were written by Jewish men.)

(Transition between secular and sacred was an amazing piano solo by our very accomplished pianist for the group, then:)

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

Angels From The Realms of Glory

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

(Two beautiful duets by our 2 lady violinists, then:)

Joy To The World

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Away In A Manger

Silent Night (first verse sung with guitar accompaniment only)

(Then a lovely solo by our alto, titled KING OF GLORY,) followed by all of us joining her at the end with the chorus, Bow Down And Worship Him

(We ended with a worship segment, singing:)

O Come Let Us Adore Him; For He Alone Is Worthy; We'll Give You All The Glory

We Exalt Thee

Holy Lord, Most Holy Lord

He Is Exalted

Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (Something About That Name)

Agnus Dei (with a violin solo intro then both piano and violin playing with the vocalists throughout the song.

A reprise of the chorus of O Come Let Us Adore Him

and, finally, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

It was delightful!

The Lord was honored, hearts were lifted, and we got to be part of the joy of creating that atmosphere! A sweet day! 

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #3: December 5

We will come back to Mary later - but I want to bring Joseph into the story. We know he was of the lineage of David. Matthew Chapter 1 provides very clear evidence of that by citing his genealogy back to Abraham. If you read my book, LEAD ME TO THE CROSS, you will see my comments about several of the people listed in Joseph's genealogy. It is absolutely fascinating to pay attention to those in his ancestry that we have information about in other texts of the Bible. But for my current purposes, I need to just focus on what the Bible states, and what I see in Joseph. 

Matthew 1 says Mary "was found to be with child". We don't know when Mary told Joseph about the angel's visit telling her she was going to get pregnant with a baby, and that God would be the father by the power of the Holy Spirit. I know it is conjecture - but I am pretty sure she would have told him the whole story! And it is obvious he didn't buy it. 

Tradition says that the betrothal period was one year. It was a time for getting to know each other better, and by law they were committed to each other, and it required a decree of divorce to end the betrothal. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, the Bible tells us that Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 

Historical information says that had he accused her publicly she could have been stoned. He obviously loved her, and was not vindictive, but Joseph was a man of integrity and strong moral character. He certainly didn't consider marrying her and bearing the shame and humiliation of what others would think about him when they found out Mary was pregnant. And he obviously didn't believe what she had told him - and had to be terribly hurt, believing in that moment that Mary had violated his trust and had been unfaithful to him. 

And then, God! 

God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Yeshua (Jesus), for he will save his people from their sins."

What a difference that made! Mary's story was true - and Joseph was going to be step-dad to the Son of God.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. 

Whispers around town? They still happened - but Joseph and Mary knew the truth! 

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #2: December 4

Mary is still on my mind. 

All of my life I was told that Mary was a young teen when she was betrothed to Joseph - and that she likely gave birth to Jesus when she was in her mid-teens - perhaps as early as 13, but certainly by 16. But the Bible doesn't tell us that. 

That brings up the point of conjecture. I do NOT want to promote theories that are not supported by Scripture. We can research what the mores of that society were - and learn a lot from watching "Fiddler on the Roof" because marriages were arranged by their families, and often the promise of the marriage partners was selected for children who were very young - but it is purely conjecture to try to assign an age to Mary, or to Joseph, for that matter.

She was a virgin. Simply all we are told. She confirmed that when she said she had never been with a man in her conversation with the angel, Gabriel. 

I am a wee bit shocked that it never occurred to me before to question that. We need to pay attention to the facts as they are supplied to us in God's Word! That is going to apply to LOTS of other things we have been "told" if we cannot find clear confirmation in God's Word. That applies to assumptions we have made about the end of time as well. We are instructed to "study" to show ourselves approved, workmen who are rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Just the facts. 

One fact we do have is that Mary went immediately to see her relative, Elizabeth, and stayed with her about 3 months (which would have been right up to the time John was born). Had she been a young teen I don't think her mother would have just let her go away for 3 months - that is conjecture, but something to think about. It adds to the things to ponder. 

There is a lot to wonder about. Did she tell Joseph before she left? Or when did she choose to share that information? After she returned from visiting Elizabeth? We don't know!

I can imagine Elizabeth was very glad for the company! Her husband, Zechariah, had been struck dumb because he questioned that Elizabeth could get pregnant as such an old age - and for 6 months at that juncture, she had not been able to hear his voice. We are also told in the Bible that she isolated herself during this period of time - so Mary would have been a very welcome visitor and houseguest.

ADVENT 2023 - Blog #1: December 3

Time flies! A few days ago I thought, 'it would be good to write a blog for Advent season this year'.  Obviously I am starting a little late! (P S: Just realized 12/10 that Advent started on December 3, so I wasn't late after all!)

December 3 is a special day to me. December 3, 1908 was the year my father was born. 115 years ago! Honoring the date of his birth is an annual observation. 

I do not believe Jesus was born in the winter. I used to think he was most likely born in the Spring - but after listening to teaching by a Rabbi named Mark Biltz, there is pretty strong evidence Jesus was born in the Fall - likely in September or October during the Feast of Tabernacles. The more important issue for us is that we DO remember (whatever day it is that we honor Him) and that we celebrate His coming the first time as a sweet little baby - and anticipate His Second Coming when He will return as the conquering hero on his white horse. 

But beginnings are where we are today. And sweet young Mary is on my mind. Mary, a young woman who was betrothed to Joseph. We know she was a virgin. (We conjecture about a lot of the rest of the details.) Luke 1 tells us the story of Gabriel's visit to Mary when her considerably older relative, Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, was in her 6th month of pregnancy with a baby to be named John (John the Baptist): (ESV)

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 

While it is true that the Jews were looking for the Messiah, they expected Him to come as a conqueror, an avenger who would rescue them from the evils they suffered under Roman rule. They didn't expect Him to come as a little baby, and even if that thought had occurred to them, they would have expected Him to be born into a royal household, not to a poor peasant. After all, he was to be of the house and lineage of David. 

Even so, Mary amazes me. She didn't decline the role she was called to. She didn't even ask, "Why me?" She merely asked "How will this be since I am a virgin?" She didn't ask for a few days to pray about it, and take time to consider the cost of how she'd be perceived - or even the possibility that Joseph might not believe her story. She just said yes! "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." 

I look forward to meeting Mary! 

I mentioned His Second Coming when He will come back as the conquering hero on His white horse! At His Second Coming He will come as the avenger the Jewish faithful have anticipated. What a day that will be!