Used with a lowercase ‘n’ nativity refers to "birth,
especially the place, conditions, or circumstances of being born." With the
‘n’ capitalized, Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus.
Though Jewish prophets of old had foretold Bethlehem as the place the Messiah
would be born, it was an obscure fact that was not common knowledge two thousand
years ago. After all, "a Bible in every home" did not exist, nor was there
necessarily someone who could read in each household. Many centuries would
pass before "commoners" had ready access to God’s written Word.
The Bible makes it clear, as far back as Abraham, that all the nations and
people of the world would be blessed by the seed of Abraham. At the time
the promise was given, Abraham was an old man with little hope of becoming
the father of one, let alone a father of nations. But, God knew that in the
fullness of time He would send His Son, the Promised One, to save His people
from their sins, and that His Son would be a descendant of Abraham.
God chose a young woman named Mary to be the one to give birth to our Savior.
Mary was a virgin, so God sent an angel to her to explain her role. At that
time, Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, to whom God also sent an
angel to inform of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and to assure
him he should not "put her away privately" in order to avoid humiliation
and disgrace.
Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, which is where Jesus would have been born,
had not the King over them issued a decree that a census be taken of the
Roman world. To comply, Joseph was required to journey to the small city
of Bethlehem in order to register. Joseph was of the lineage of David and
Bethlehem was the town of David.
It was no accident Mary was ready to deliver when she and Joseph arrived
in Bethlehem; rather it was God’s perfect will that this be accomplished.
However, as everyone who’s ever heard this story knows there was no
room for them at the inn. The only shelter available to them was a manger,
a place to shield livestock from the elements, or what we’d think of
as a barn.
It was hardly the quarters one might expect for the birth of a King, but
isn’t it just like God to be "thinking outside the box?" Similarly,
one could scarcely imagine a king’s birth being announced to a small
group of shepherds "watching over their flock by night." But, in light of
what we know now, the announcement of the greatest news the world has ever
received to simple shepherds makes perfect sense. Good shepherds tend to
the needs of their sheep, leading them beside still waters and green pastures,
driving away predators, and rescuing the ones lost from the fold. In his
earthly ministry, Jesus called himself "The Good Shepherd."
Shortly after a host of angels had announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds,
the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and "the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths
and lying in a manger." The shepherds told Mary and Joseph about their angelic
visit and afterwards told others of their amazing experiences. They returned,
we are told, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard
and seen, which were just as they had been told."
The Gospel of Luke provides a lot of detail regarding the Nativity but
doesn’t mention Magi (wise men) visiting Jesus in the manger, and according
to the evidence presented by Matthew, the Magi did not arrive until months
later. After all, being from the East, they had a far greater distance to
travel than the shepherds.
Expecting a royal birth, the first place the Magi looked for the newborn
king was the palace of Herod, asking "Where is the one who has been born
king of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him."
Herod, of course, knew nothing of Jesus’ birth, but after consulting
the "priests and teachers of the law," learned that the Messiah or Christ
was prophesied by Micah to be born in Bethlehem. Slyly, Herod instructed
the Magi to find the new king and report his whereabouts to him so that he
could also go and worship him. Such was not Herod’s intent, for he wanted
to kill anyone who posed a threat to his throne, and the Magi were warned
in a dream not to report back to Herod.
We don’t know how many Magi there were, but we associate the three gifts,
gold, frankincense, and myrrh, with three Magi. Thus, Nativity scenes often
depict three wise men bringing gifts to the manger.
The humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus serve to remind us how little
we truly understand concerning the God we worship. We should be thankful
we have the benefit of God’s revelation of Himself through His Son,
and the advantage of hindsight to help us understand how human history is
shaped by God.
In this Christmas season, let us not lose sight of the reason for the season.
Jesus’ birth is the reason we celebrate Christmas. God wishes to draw
all men unto Him, from the lowliest of the socio-economic scale to the most
powerful world leaders. All need a Savior.
The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were also prophetic, speaking
of our Lord's offices of king, priest, and savior. Gold speaks of His kingship;
frankincense was a spice used in the priestly duties; and myrrh was an embalming
ointment anticipating His death.
Heart Update
It Keeps On Ticking
Since having a heart attack a few years ago, I’ve paid more attention
to the signs that often signal the onset of a cardiac problem: chest pain,
shortness of breath, and numbness or pain in one or both arms. Mind you,
I don’t panic at the slightest symptom, but I do note any of the above
symptoms with informed concern.
After having a medicated stent inserted into an artery, I was advised to
develop an exercise regime. In fact the counselor stated that exercise was
the most important thing I could do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She
didn’t state it would be the hardest thing to maintain, but I’ve
found it to be true, that and eating the right foods. Having failed to exercise
regularly or modify my diet, I can only attribute my good health to medications.
When my cardiologist informed me I would need to take medications to (1)
lower my blood pressure, (2) lower my cholesterol, and (3) thin my blood,
I thought the recommendations were overkill. After all, my blood pressure
wasn’t high, and my cholesterol was in the normal range. My cardiologist
assured me the medications would lessen stress on the heart muscles, so I
now take the medications in order to err on the side of caution.
Yearly heart checkups have become routine. The Doctor quizzes me; I explain
how I’m feeling, and he schedules a stress test to determine if
there’s cause for concern. This year, I made the mistake of mentioning
tightness in my chest and some pain in my upper arms after vomiting a couple
of months earlier. That would probably have been sufficient cause to merit
another stress test, but I expounded on an ongoing problem with my lower
esophagus not allowing food to freely pass to my stomach, but that vomiting
removes the blockage.
"That’s not normal," he chided. "But, the pain you described is referred
pain, and your esophagus and your heart share the same nerve and both can
produce referred pain."
While it’s normal for me, apparently it’s not normal for everybody.
"Why haven’t you had that checked out? Are you afraid?"
I replied that persons I had known with similar problems had described their
unpleasant experiences of having to swallow a steel ball on a string to stretch
the esophagus or told of having a tube and camera run down their throat,
all while very much awake, thank you. It’s not something I felt I wanted
to put myself through.
"They’ll put you to sleep for the procedure," he shared. "It’s
like having a colonoscopy, except from the other end, and you won’t
feel a thing."
"Well, I’ve had a colonoscopy a time or two and the worst part was the
"clean-out" prep I had to do at home."
"That won’t be necessary," he stated. "I’ll have my nurse make
you an appointment. The pain you described in your chest and arms after vomiting
could be caused by your esophagus and not your heart, but we need to do a
stress test with you on a treadmill to be certain it’s not your heart."
Remembering my last stress test and how I thought my legs would give out
before my heart rate got high enough for them to get good results from the
dye they injected in me, I asked about the procedure using a drug to raise
the heart rate as opposed to walking. It’s something they do for the
walking impaired and the elderly.
"Personally, I think the treadmill provides the best results. It more closely
simulates actual stress," he countered.
"Okay, I suppose I’ve got sense enough to step off the treadmill if
I give out," I reasoned.
The stress test was quickly scheduled for the following Monday, and my
appointment at the Center for Digestive Disorders was scheduled for the following
Thursday.
Remarkably, the treadmill portion of the tests went smoothly.
As I told Barbara, "I never broke a sweat."
The doctors that put me through the paces stated that everything looked good
to them, but I could expect to hear from my cardiologist after he’d
had time to study the results. Well, it was more on the order of, "If you
don’t hear from him by 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, please call the office."
I called the office on Wednesday and was told my heart pumping action was
good and there was nothing to indicate any arterial blockage. It was good
news.
The digestive health folks couldn’t work me in for tests until early
January, so I won’t have a report on my esophagus until then. I’m
scheduled to see a Urologist in February, and with any luck at all, somebody
will insist on me undergoing another colonoscopy sometime next year.
Everyone tells me that growing old is better than the other alternative,
but I tend to think of growing old in terms of an aging automobile. While
it may still be operational, no sooner is one thing repaired when something
else breaks down.
Coming
Attraction Your Second Reminder
Put it on your calendar, as you won’t want to miss this musical
extravaganza. Do it
now; don’t delay; mark Thursday, December 27th for seven
o’clock in the evening at First Baptist Church, Pontotoc.
Sponsored by the Pontotoc Music Study Club, and coordinated and directed
by Patricia Young Henry, the program for the evening is entitled, "Christmas
Celebration On Pianos And More." Patricia states the program will feature
six pianos, six keyboards, two flutes, a clarinet and some percussion
instruments.
Approximately a year and one-half ago, Patricia Henry and the Music Study
Club held a similar event that was well received and was the talk of the
town for weeks following. Patricia hand picked six of her former students
and six others for a performance the magnitude of which is seldom found beyond
Broadway.
This year’s presentation involves more players and more instruments.
All players are either current residents or former residents of Pontotoc,
representing twenty-five churches and five cities. Of these, twelve are or
else have been music teachers and two are band directors, so talent will
be in abundance.
Patricia also stated there will be 11 sets of parent/ child performers, four
sets of grandparent/ grandchild performers, three sets of three generations
performing, and four sets of siblings performing. Additionally fifteen of
the sixty-six players are either children or grandchildren of members of
the Music Study Club.
Not one to skimp on details, Patricia further stated there will be 17 guest
performers, 13 members of the Pontotoc Music Study Club, 2 college students,
12 high school students, 11 Jr. high students, and 11 elementary students.
Of the sixty-six performers, forty-one are former and current students of
Patricia, who, believe it or not, is in her 57th year of teaching.
There are a number of music programs scheduled in churches prior to Christmas
that are sure to please even the "Scroogiest" among us, but I have the feeling
the best can be seen at FBC, Pontotoc on December 27th.
There is no admission and the public is cordially invited to attend this
holiday extravaganza.
Bodock Beau
Seasonal Humor
The issue of RRN nearest Christmas, should contain a bit of Christmas humor,
don’t you think? The following were found on the Internet.
The Shopping Criminal
It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner,
"What are you charged with?"
"Doing my Christmas shopping early", replied the defendant.
"That's no offense", said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?"
"Before the store opened."
Innovative Uses for Fruitcake
- Hold up your car when changing tires
- Slice and use for poker chips
- Use it to carve your turkey on
- Use as replacement for Duraflame log
- Take it camping with you...use it to weigh down the tent
- Use it as a seat at a stadium event
- Stand on it when you change a light bulb
- Put it in the back of your car/truck for snow/ice driving
- Replaces free weights when you work out
- Use as book ends at the school library
I Want To See Something Really Cheap
After being away on business for a week before Christmas, Tom thought it
would be nice to bring his wife a little gift.
"How about some perfume?" he asked the cosmetics clerk. She showed him a
bottle costing $50.
"That's a bit much," said Tom, so she returned with a smaller bottle for
$30.
"That’s still quite a bit," Tom groused.
Growing disgusted, the clerk brought out a tiny $15 bottle.
Tom grew agitated, "What I mean," he said, "is I'd like to see something
real cheap."
So the clerk handed him a mirror.
What is a stable?
Every Christmas morning, when my kids were little, I read them the nativity
story out of the big family Bible.
When my son was old enough to talk, he asked me what a stable was.
I thought for a moment how to explain it to him in terms he could understand,
then told him, "It's something like your sister's room, but without a stereo."
Used with a lowercase ‘n’ nativity refers to "birth,
especially the place, conditions, or circumstances of being born." With the
‘n’ capitalized, Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus.
