We all know the Christmas Story. We even celebrated it just a few short months ago. But our reading this week asks us to relive the great moments of Christ’s birth so we can see how things all fit together. My prayer is that these old familiar words can speak anew to you and that they find an open door for you to see how God loves you and how He keeps His promise.

In the Christmas Story, when Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem and Joseph was trying to find somewhere his wife could give birth, what always happened? You’ve got it. “There is no room at the end.” Every room was full throughout the town and every door was shut in their face. 

In The Heart of the Story, Randy Frazee tells the story of an elementary school preparing for a Christmas play. All the important parts were given to the smartest kids - Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, all taken by the “smart-ones.” But there was one part left, that of the innkeeper. And who really wanted to be the bad guy? They ended up giving the part to a boy that was seen as slow in understanding, but had a big heart. 

As the day approached for the play, the boy was worried about what he was going to do. He couldn’t imagine having to shut the door in poor Mary and Joseph’s face. At last the day came and the play began; worry mounting in his little body with every moment that passed. Until finally, “when Mary and Joseph knocked, the scruffy little innkeeper threw open the door and shouted with a big smile, ‘Come on in. I’ve been expecting you.’ With that the crowd cheered and clapped and the play came to an end.” 

That’s a pretty great story and it brings a smile to my face. It makes me think, if I was the innkeeper, what would I have done. But you know, we are all just like the innkeeper. We are given the same question when Jesus the Savior comes knocking, will we let Him in? Some of us send Him away because He asks too much of us. We would rather live the way we want. We don’t want to be seen as different. Some of us send Him away because life is crowded.  We have too many responsibilities and demands placed on us and we can’t possibly add another “requirement.” And some of us send Him away because we think it’s too late, that we’ve already done too much that can’t be forgiven 

The truth is that it’s never too late to open the door. God’s story is a continual reminder of how He reaches out to us in love, no matter where we are at in our lives. He desires true fellowship with us and that is possible because of Jesus the long-awaited Messiah. What God is asking is for you to throw the door open and say, “Come on in. I’ve been expecting you.”

​Ivan

​Hi Parents!
I have enjoyed our journey through the Old Testament. Much of what we studied was a nice review, some was new to me. Though I still feel like I struggle to keep events and kings in their proper order, I have a much better understanding of what God's people, the Jews or Israelites, have gone through.

Now we will journey through the New Testament. Of course we will start with the birth of the Messiah. Sometimes I think I have a pretty good idea about what the Bible teaches about the birth of Christ. I've read it and taught it several times over the years. I've seen one real live birth and I've seen many born on Call of the Midwife (sorry if you aren't a fan). But I still don't even have a clue what it is like to look into a baby's face and know He is the Creator of the Universe. I have no idea what Mary and Joseph were thinking as they looked at that precious baby on that first day, or the next day, or at 12 years old, or for Mary, when He hung on the cross.

God had all this (just like everything) planned from the very beginning. He knew what it was going to take to save us. He knew the dirty, smelly lives we would live...but He still wants to fellowship face to face with me, with you...

He knows who will live a life of stewardship, serving Him in all they do.
He knows who will be a wishy washy believer who just shows up...sometimes.
He knows who will never believe.

Yet He sent His Son for ALL of us so ALL of us would be able to make the choice...believe or not...
It's my choice, it is your choice.

May God bless you with His love and presence this week!
Mr. Chuck

There is an era in our American past called the Reconstruction Age and it took place right after the end of the Civil War. The goal was to right the wrongs of slavery by allowing all people -regardless of color - to be full citizens in the United States, free men and women. By the end of the Age, even though certain positives happened, there was still oppression based on race and color. The “change” didn’t stick and a more lasting change wouldn’t come for another 100 years. This Age was supposed to be a Reinstruction of what the founding fathers wrote about 100 years prior, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But many people refused to acknowledge the worth of men and women created in God’s image and continued to enslave and hurt.

Even though we feel like we are more smart or enlightened than that, these events happened in our not too distant past. As a church, we’ve been looking at how God’s people were continually disobedient so they were disciplined by being taken into a foreign land, losing their freedom. After 50 years, God allowed the king of the land to take pity on them and many returned to Jerusalem in freedom. And after 20 years of work, they rebuilt the Temple to worship God. You would think that after the time in bondage they would be ready to truly change; but no dice. Since they are humans, just like us, they are creatures of habit and fell right back into the same way of doing things – doing whatever they wanted to do. It is for this reason that God sent along Ezra and Nehemiah.

Through Nehemiah, God rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem. This gave His people a safe place to dwell and begin anew the process of restoration in their relationship with Him. Hand-in-hand with this reconstruction was reinstruction on what it meant to be a community of God. Ezra read from the Torah (the Bible) and the people chose to follow God with their whole hearts. They were transformed! And this lasted…but only for a little while because they went right back to doing what they wanted, when they wanted.

So, you see, we are not much different than our human counterparts 2500 years ago. It’s astonishing how many times God allows us as humans to go through the process of reconstruction, reinstruction, rebellion, disciplining, and restoration. We just never seem to truly want to change. But He is a patient God, there is no doubt about it. He just keeps reaching out.

​So where are you in this cycle? What do you think God is trying to say to you?

Ivan

One of the lessons God is teaching me in this chapter is that He certainly has projects He wants accomplished. Last week we read about the rebuilding of the Altar and Temple, this week it's the walls around Jerusalem. God could certainly accomplish all this without us (and it would probably be much easier). But God wants to be involved with us and He wants us to be involved with Him.
 
This is where Ezra comes in. The Temple is done but the people are in ruins. They are intermarrying with spouses from surrounding nations who worship idols. Isn't this where all the trouble started? Ezra knows the Law of Moses and is a (certified) teacher of it. When he sees the condition of the people, he tears his cloths and mourns.
 
God uses Nehemiah to lead the people in a project to rebuild the wall in spite of the threats from the surrounding people. They realize it is only because of God's help they could complete the wall...especially in only a couple of months.
 
By the 8th chapter of Nehemiah, the people are coming to Ezra and asking Him to read and teach the law. The people repent and once again are aligned with God.
 
The Altar is rebuilt, the Temple is rebuilt, the wall is rebuilt, and the people are rebuilt.
 
But soon the people become complacent again. Meaningless sacrifices with less than perfect animals. Tithes which don't meet God's standards. Priests who don't care what God wants.
 
One last time God sends a prophet to turn the people around. Here comes Malachi. Only a few listen. Malachi closes by pointing to that great final day of judgment. For those committed to God, judgment day will be a day of joy because it will usher in eternity in God's presence. Those who have ignored God will be stubble to be burned up.
 
Which will you be?
Mr. Chuck