The Philadelphia Manna December 2013 by Maranatha, Inc.

the Philadelphia Manna December 2013

P H I L A D E L P H I A

readThePhillyManna.org

Today in the to Savior has bee he is the Mess

own of David a en born to you; siah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas! December 25

READY TO MAKE A KINGDOM IMPACT?

Discover How You Can Start a Church in Your Community.

Want to know more? Visit pennjerseycp.com. Ready to get involved? Email Cp@Brnonline for a free copy of Kingdom Matrix

Kingdom Matrix will help you find answers as to how the church properly fits into the larger picture of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activity. Become and agent of change in your community by becoming a part of church planting today.

the Philadelphia Manna | December 2013

Columns

17 | Hope Unleashed

07 | Signals 26 | Unfiltered

18 | Jesus Freak

Features 10 | What Child is This? Transform your celebration.

12 | Go and Tell How do you view Christmas?

14 | The Greatest Gift

Stay in Touch

Salvation is a free gift.

Just happy being different.

20 | Something Missing in the Christmas Spirit Who are your deeds pointing to?

23 | The Christmas Flower Christmas is not about your perfection.

18 | The Case for Claus What do we agree on?

It is better to give than to receive.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

the Philadelphia Manna | A Publication of Maranatha, Inc. Editor-In-Chief: Debbie Byrd Creative Director: Joe Willey Editorial Coordinator: Karen Punches Contributing Writers: Phil Bohaker, Tammy Darling, Jeff Friend, Josh Millwood, Karen Punches, Brittney Switala & Fran Tatum Philadelphia Publisher: Chuck Kieffer

Frequently Asked Questions Who We Are The Manna is published by Maranatha, Inc., a Christcentered ministry called to proclaim the Good News of faith and life in Jesus Christ through various forms of media, as God directs, until He returns. “Maranatha” (mer-a-nath´-a) is an Aramaic word found in I Corinthians 16:22. It is translated, “Our Lord, come!” Joy! 102.5 WOLC is also part of Maranatha, Inc. Its call letters stand for “Watch, Our Lord Cometh.” Maranatha!

Disclaimer Non-ministry advertisers are not required to subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” printed at right; nor are their businesses and products necessarily endorsed by the Manna, Joy! 102.5 WOLC, or Maranatha, Inc., whose viewpoints are not necessarily represented by the opinions or statements of persons interviewed in this magazine; nor are the viewpoints of its advertisers.

Statement of Faith We Believe… that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept; that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the only hope for man is to believe in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind, and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood; that Jesus Christ in person will return to Earth in power and glory; that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ, for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives; and that the Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all those who, through belief in Christ, have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The twin mission of the Church is worldwide evangelization, and nurture and discipline of Christians.

the Philadelphia Manna 3402 Edgemont Avenue, Suite 366 | Brookhaven, PA 19015 Manna e-mail: ckieffer@readthephillymanna.org

Maranatha, Inc. | Home of the Manna

On the Air Memories “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.”—Bob Hope All of us have special memories of traditions that make each Christmas special. Sometimes it’s a simple thing that triggers our memories. The smell of cookies, the twinkle of lights, the smiles of children staring into a storefront window. One of my fondest memories is when my mom baked Christmas cookies. Every year on the Saturday before Christmas she would bake all kinds of yummy confections. Some we couldn’t have; they were for gifts for friends and family. But we knew that the large tin marked for our grandpa would eventually be shared with eager grandkids. Another fond memory is the smell of my dad’s train set as it ran for the first time each Christmas season. What is your fondest memory of the holidays? What is that memory trigger for you? One holiday tradition that we still enjoy is taking one Sunday night after church in December for our annual Christmas light drive. Our kids who are now teens still look forward to it each year. Our favorite stop is the Smith house on Silverside Road in Wilmington De. (YouTube video address follows) Each year the Smiths decorate their property with over 500,000 Christmas lights and decorations. You can see the lights glow in the distance off of I-95 long before you arrive. I Imagine that one can see it from space. Their display offers everything you can imagine from Disney to Loony Tunes to the baby Jesus. Each evening at dusk Mr Smith dawns his Santa suit and takes his seat on Santa’s throne to hand out candy canes to passersby. Over the years we’ve met families from all over the world. One year we met a family that just arrived from Ireland. They

heard about the Smiths from friends and made the trek to Delaware from NJ. Our families met up at the manager scene and had an incredible talk about the baby Jesus. Traditions have a way of creating lasting memories. A familiar sound or odor can trigger a strong emotional response. As you may have discovered in your own life, there is no way to predict when those triggers will set off a series of memories. Recently I’ve lost both of my parents. I miss them and some of the things I could count on every holiday. But the memories and traditions they passed on will live on in my heart and mind. Some I will continue with our children and future grandkids. When our children leave our home I hope that they will take with them stockings full of good memories to remind them that they are loved; triggers that will draw them home again and again. What are your favorite things to do each Holiday season? I encourage you, especially if you’re newly married or have young children, to start a new tradition this season. Traditions are the building blocks of emotional attachment that make up family. They can provide security for each member of your family, even in those times when you can’t be together. One thing for sure; it’s the little things that bring memories of Christmas past and it will be the little snippets of memory that build the future. Merry Christmas. Check out this video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/ddV0QCCXWBo Chuck Kieffer, is the Host of Big House Radio, an indie radio program proving a voice for young artists in Philadelphia. The program can be heard Wednesday evenings from 9-11 PM on http://www. wybf.com and Thursday afternoons from 2-4 PM on www.wdnrfm.org.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

Go Out

Philadelphia

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Hedgerow 12/6 - 12/31 | Rose Valley, Pennsylvania www.hedgerowtheatre.org This year marks our 21st annual presentation of the classic Dickens tale about the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from miser to man who honors Christmas in his heart, as adapted by internationally known playwright Nagle Jackson. Come find out why this has become a Delaware Valley holiday tradition.

Macy’s Christmas Light Show Through 12/31 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.visitphilly.com A perfect family outing, the Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert at Macy’s is a Philadelphia holiday tradition that dates back half a century.

West Chester Rail Road Santa’s Express Through 12/22 | West Chester, Pennsylvania www.westchesterrr.net All aboard Santa’s Express! Join Santa for a 90 minute journey on our heated decorated train through the Chester Creek Valley.

Christmas at Longwood Gardens 11/28 - 1/12 | Kennett Square, Pennsylvania www.longwoodgardens.org Half a million outdoor lights and holiday magic await you during Longwood’s incomparable Christmas display. Enjoy dazzling trees and seasonal concerts. The Music Room hosts a special, themed holiday display. Kids of all ages will delight in a miniature Garden Railway decked out for the holidays.

The Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars 12/20-21 | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania www.udpac.org The Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars—a performance group featuring the region’s most talented teens—brightens the holiday season with the family show. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the Shooting Stars as they light up the stage with the annual Holiday Show.

The Nutcracker 12/7 - 12/29 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.kimmelcenter.org Delight in the Philadelphia region’s most beloved holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™. A mustsee for children and adults alike, this production boasts glittering sets and costumes, world-class dancing, dozens of young students from The School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and all the flair of a Broadway spectacular. readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

What Child is This? By Robert McClure

hristmas is everywhere right now. Lights are displayed on houses, businesses and parks for any passerby to see; red and green is spilling out of stores, and the television is filled with Christmas movies. My wife is particularly fond of the movies, as evidenced by the DVR rapidly filling up with the new premieres and old favorites. And, of course, there is the line of children waiting to meet their local Santa Claus in nearly every mall. When I worked as a pastor, I felt it almost obligatory to remind those around me about the real “Reason for the Season.” In retrospect, I think I may have been doing people a bit of a disservice. Don’t get me wrong, it is important to note that the celebration of the birth of Christ is why we have Christmas. But that doesn’t go far enough. Instead of just noting it, we should be reflecting on how incredible this reality is and use it to transform our celebration. I used to live in Chicago. It is a large, busy city of about 2.7 million, according to Census data. Big enough that, if you were to zoom out to see the entire city, you would not be able to make out a single person. Or a single house. You could barely make out a single building of any size. However, a quick online search shows that, compared to the Earth, Chicago is pretty small. It is visible from space at night, but only as one of many bright dots. And Earth pales in comparison to the Sun, which can fit 1.3 million planets the size of Earth inside it. If every person were a planet the size of Earth, half the population of Chicago could fit inside the Sun. What we often forget is that the same Jesus who made the Sun also was born in Bethlehem a bit over 2,000 years ago. It gets bigger than that. Another search shows that there are roughly 400 billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, of which the Sun is one. If every person on Earth were a star, we would need 57 Earths to have enough people to represent each star in our galaxy. And the same Jesus who made the Milky Way chose to become one of us about 2,000 years ago. One more thing to consider. Our galaxy is one of an estimated 170 billion galaxies that we will ever be able

to see no matter how scientifically advanced we get. And we have no idea how much further the universe goes from there. And the same Jesus we celebrate this month made that by only speaking. He didn’t have to lift a finger. He merely spoke, and it happened. Not only did He do that, He made the forces which make them work and the space and time that they occupy. And this same Jesus became a human, and we get the privilege of celebrating this! That is what it means when we say Jesus is Immanuel. He is God, living among us. The infinite, all-powerful, allknowing, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of everything chose to be born to poor parents in a small town in the then-Roman province of Judea. He who created life was born in a stable, and His bassinette was a feeding trough. He who had unlimited power now could only cry to His mother for help. And, ultimately, He who was perfectly holy came to die for our sin. This realization can change the way we think about Christmas. This event should be celebrated as the miracle that it is. Paul spoke about this in Romans 14. He said, “The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord” (Romans 14:6, ESV). Granted, he was arguing specifically that Christians can either celebrate Jewish holidays or not, but his point is that it can be done to honor God, and the principle applies to us now. So, as Christians who celebrate Christmas, let’s celebrate to the honor of Christ. There is a difference between giving gifts to people because they expect them around this time of year and giving gifts because God gave us a perfect Gift, but the difference is not necessarily in the gift itself. There is a difference between watching Christmas movies with the family because that is the tradition and watching them because Christ has given to you family as your first ministry, but you could be still watching the same movies. The difference is the attitude we bring into the celebration, and it may or may not result in different activities. It will, however, certainly result in a changed experience. This difference is what Christ wants more than to have us merely noting the fact that Jesus is the “Reason for the Season.”

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

Go and Tell By Phil Bohaker

itting in the church pews as a child, I never understood why “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was a Christmas song. Sure, the lyrics are obviously about the birth of Christ, but I associated Christmas music with somber, reverent melodies as much as with the lyrics. It never occurred to me that the humble entrance of God into humanity was a cause for boisterous song. In those days, I didn’t see the birth of Jesus as a cause for worship. I could feel the “warmth” of the season with those around me and even cherish the traditions that brought my family together. But to truly worship the Son of God through the celebration of his birth—that was not in my sights. On Christmas, the only thing I truly rejoiced over was the materializing of my wish list under the Christmas tree. For that I would sing and dance and make merriment. As for the story of the Christ-child, that event was more appropriately acknowledged with serious, quiet reflection. It was a parroted response to a rite I did not understand. I have since come to view Christmas much differently in light of a recurring response of people in the Bible to God’s miracles. One example is the lame man of Acts 3, who Peter healed “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” The man responded to this miraculous work of God by “walking and leaping and praising God” as he entered the temple. This was the reflex response of a man who had come into contact with the living God. Why would my response be any different when I think of God engaging the whole world with His presence in the miracle of Christmas? For this reason, I now count “Go Tell It on the Mountain” as a cherished song of celebration. It underscores the paradox of Christ’s birth—the fullness of divinity hidden in the delicate body of a newborn baby hidden away with the animals in a town hidden just south of the bustling capital city. All this was revealed to bewildered shepherds on the midnight watch, who became the only ticketholders to the heavenly concert given in honor of God and His beloved Son. What happens next in the story is as notable as the first scene. The shepherds found Jesus and declared to His

parents what they had seen and heard. What was Mary’s response? She “treasured up all these things,” Luke tells us. And there is the heart of the matter—treasure. That first Christmas, Mary pointed us to the proper spirit of the season. God gave us a Treasure that trumps all earthly treasures, a gift that lives on while all other gifts yield to decay. Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and marvel at the birth of Christ and to affirm Him as our treasure. This is not always easy to do in our culture of “buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like,” as Dave Ramsey aptly describes it. Still, the right focus during the Christmas season is only the first step. Acknowledgment alone will not insulate us from the materialism around us. This is where the simple beauty of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” comes into sharp focus. If our hearts truly overflow with joy at the birth of Christ, we will go and tell it. The Great Commission does not begin with the death and resurrection of Christ. His long-awaited, perfectly-timed birth is also an integral part of the story. “Go Tell It” bears the marks of its origins in the tradition of African American spirituals. There is no certainty of its original authorship. Hardly anyone sang it until the 1920s. It is a humble song with a magnificent message. Its history, in a way, mirrors its message: “Down in a lowly manger our humble Christ was born; and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.” This song puts to words what was always lacking in my own view of Christmas. As a child, I appreciated the solemnity of our church’s candlelight service. This ceremony marked my participation in something profound, even holy. But Christmas is more than a day to cherish or a moment to experience. It is a once-in-eternity event to be proclaimed. The events that transpired in humble Bethlehem must be told and re-told. Jesus was born in obscurity, but His arrival was not obscured for long. May we, like the watchful shepherds, be eager to proclaim the message we have received. Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

The Greatest Gift By Jeff Friend

t was unquestionably the greatest gift ever given. God the Father gave His Son to mankind, and the course of world history was forever changed. The gift was so incredible that every year Christians celebrate Jesus’ arrival with pageants, celebrations and all the ceremony it justly deserves. God certainly showed His love for us in a lavish way. For the 33 years following that holy night, Jesus grew into adulthood, ministered among the people and finally was crucified and rose from the dead. We have the gift of salvation and the assurance of an eternity with Him all because of what was put in motion in a lowly stable. The Christmas story is a reason for great joy. How could it not be? He was Emmanuel—“God with us”! But one part of the story often gets overshadowed, a key element that revolves around Mary, Jesus’ mother. When the angel appeared to Mary and told her she would give birth to the Son of God, she gave a response that, at first, seems somewhat straightforward. Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38, KJV).

Thankfully, Mary did not hesitate in accepting her calling. It probably did not occur to her at the moment just how immense the responsibility of raising a divine child would be. She simply said “Yes” because of her love for God and her desire to be obedient to Him. But what if she had said “No”? What if she had told the Angel, “Can I think about this for a while and get back to you?” After all, Mary had free will like all the rest of us. The salvation of all humanity hung in the balance, and a young teenage woman would make an eternal decision—either “Yes, you can use me, God,” or “No, thanks, you need to find someone else.” But God knew she would say “Yes.” Mary’s faith and trust in God was so strong; her personal relationship with Him was so close that God knew she would not turn Him down. With such an extremely important event that needed to take place to fulfill prophecy, God was sure that he could risk it all on Mary’s answer. And that is the part that challenges me today. Does God know my heart so well, and is my relationship with Him so deep and strong, that He could ask me to do such a great work for Him without any second thought of my

devotion and obedience to Him? Christians like to say that we have totally surrendered our lives to Jesus and would do anything for Him. But, like Mary, would I truly be willing to give God the gift of my life to use for His service just as He gave the ultimate gift of His Son on that starry night? The Bible overflows with people who loved God so wholeheartedly that He could declare and proclaim things with full confidence they would do them. It might take a little nudging or persuading, but they would do it, regardless of the cost. God told Moses to go to Pharaoh. Moses may have put up some excuses, but he eventually did what God commanded. David had many ups and downs, but God said he was a man after His own heart and chose David’s bloodline to produce the Messiah. Moses and David both could have walked away from their callings, but God knew their hearts and honored their faithfulness. Yes, God gave a wonderful gift to mankind that night in Bethlehem, but Mary also gave a gift to her God—a commitment that she would demonstrate her love for Him and sacrifice her personal desires in order to raise and nurture His Son while He lived among us.

There will be many gifts given on Christmas. Churches around the world will reenact the events of that holy night. Families will gather to read the familiar Bible passages from Matthew and Luke. It is fitting and proper for Christians to retell the story of the first Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Exchanging presents with those we love reminds us of the gift we all received in that manger. All because one person told the angel, “Yes, I’ll do whatever God wants me to do.” God may never ask us to make a decision with an impact as huge as Mary’s decision. But we do make decisions every day on whether we will obey Him and submit to His will. By being faithful in saying “Yes” to Him even in our small decisions, our relationship grows deeper and we learn to trust Him in whatever He asks us to do. Faithful obedience, a heart of love and a desire to serve Him in every way we can—perhaps those are the gifts we could each give to Jesus this Christmas, gifts from His children that He would treasure for eternity.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

The Christian A dademy AQUIRING A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW THROUGH A CLASSICAL EDUCATION

An atmosphere for learning! The Christian Academy - 4301 Chandler Drive, Brookhaven, PA 19015 - P: 610-872-5100 - F: 610-876-2173 - tca-pa.org

No Empty Bowls Help Us End Hunger in Delaware County

Christimas Shop

for a Cause

December 20th, 11 am-2 pm Benefits The Giving Garden Food Pantry

101 W. State Street Media, Pennsylvania

www.lifewerks.org

Hope Unleashed By Karen Punches

ave you ever heard the expression that someone “just opened a Pandora’s box”? Apparently, whatever was done or said ended up bringing about a series of negative repercussions. The origin of the phrase actually comes from a Greek myth about the daughter of Zeus, whose name is Pandora. According to the story, Zeus gives his daughter a little box with a heavy lock and makes her promise to never open it. He then gives Pandora’s husband the key and he, too, must promise not to open the box. Zeus, however, secretly wishing to exact revenge on his son-in-law, is sure that curiosity will eventually prompt him to look inside. But Pandora is the one who succumbs to temptation. One day, while her husband is sleeping, she steals the key and unlocks the forbidden box. To her horror, out of the box flies every kind of vile thing—hate, crime, envy and disease. Pandora shuts the lid, but it is too late, as the bad elements had all escaped out into the world. Her husband wakes up and rushes over to his sobbing wife, who opens the lid to show him the empty box and what had happened. But it is not totally empty. Before she can close the lid again, out into the atmosphere quickly flutters one tiny remaining particle: hope. While this myth is precisely that—purely mythical— there was, in fact, a time when nothing bad existed in creation. The Bible says that after God created the heavens and the earth, He called everything He had made “good.” Nothing was blemished or defiled. All was perfect and right, reflecting the character of the Creator. But when Adam and Eve decided to disobey their Fa-

ther, they opened a Pandora’s box. Sin entered the world for the first time and breached the holiness of creation, thereby severing the harmony between a righteous God and fallen man. The curse of death was unleashed, the damage done—and sin has been wreaking havoc ever since. God, however, being the loving Father He is, did not want to leave us dead in our sin. So, He sent hope down into a hopeless world. And here is that hope: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). Jesus Christ came to this earth to rescue what was lost when sin entered the picture. Through His sacrifice on the cross, the gap has been bridged so that we can now access a holy God through Christ, when before, it had been completely impossible. There is absolutely nothing we can do apart from accepting Christ that will save us. Perhaps some of us are banking on having more tally marks in the “good” column than the “bad” one when it’s all said and done, as if God were keeping a cosmic score card. Ultimately, we have to acknowledge that we stand before Christ totally bankrupt. Eternal life cannot be earned— it is a gift freely offered if we would just accept it. Then, and only then, can we truly have hope in this world.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

hen I was in high school I ran with the popular crowd. But I was popular by association only. Nothing in my life pointed to popularity, success or any other related word. In fact, I spent four years in elementary school in speech class. Those “r” words just wouldn’t come out the way they were supposed to. The stuttering didn’t help either. I developed a complex early on, convinced I was doomed to remain forever a dork. And then I found Jesus. I was convinced He was my one-way ticket out of Dorkville. My confidence soared. I began to understand that I am a beautiful creation of God Himself. I now had a true friend, a confidante that wouldn’t betray me. The more my relationship with Christ grew, the more I realized that my ticket out of Dorkville had landed me right smack in the middle of Freak Town. That’s right, I went from being a child dork to an adult freak. More specifically, a Jesus freak. Labels are a peculiar phenomenon. Wear a particular clothing label and you’re tagged “rich.” Wear something from Wal-Mart and you’ll be labeled as “poor.” It matters not that the designer label came from a resale shop and

you only paid $3.00 for it because you could never actually afford to buy it new. So, when I’m called a freak, I’m okay with that. Put Jesus in front of that label (as some have), and I’ll wear that label proudly and consider it all a part of suffering for Christ’s sake (Philippians 1:29). My husband, by association (to Christ, not me), has been labeled a freak as well— among other things. His zeal for the Lord once led his grandmother of ninety-plus years to brand him a religious fanatic. Ever since my husband and I decided to follow Jesus, really follow Jesus—no matter what He wanted us to do and no matter the cost—we have been engaged in an ongoing battle. Following Jesus always comes at a cost. When we said “yes” to following Christ, we placed ourselves squarely in the enemy’s line of fire. And we did so with the full understanding of what we were doing. This is what it means to count the cost. Make no mistake, following Jesus will place you smack dab in the middle of a centuries-old raging conflict. You may not be popular anymore. You may lose friends (in our case, family). You may be persecuted in myriad

Jesus Freak By Tammy Darling

ways. But being a sincere follower of Christ means you don’t just read the Bible, you do what it says. Shocking, I know. Since telling Christ I’m all in, reading the Bible has taken on a whole new level of meaning—and joy—as I discover Christ for who He really is. When we wake up to the beauty of Christ, we won’t care if our family approves. We’ll welcome challenges and understand that trust requires a certain amount of unanswered questions. Following Jesus is risky, yes, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Being a follower of Jesus Christ has taken us down some pretty remote roads. My husband and I first realized we were freaks when we announced our decision to homeschool. “You mean you’re not going to let her go to school? Ever?” My first impulse was to respond to this concerned citizen with, “No, we’re going to hide her away from society in seclusion and raise her as the village idiot.” Instead, I ever so deliberately told her the truth: “God told us to.” Freak. Yes, that was the defining moment, the moment that my husband and I first realized we were living in Freak Town, population: 2. The you-have-got-to-be-

kidding-me looks and remarks have continued ever since. Giving when we have nothing to give. Freak. Daring to administer discipline as the Bible prescribes. Freak. No cable, Dish Network or Direct TV. Freak. Freak. Freak. Our latest freak slapping came as the result of announcing to friends and family that we were going to adopt. We have been mocked, ridiculed and even shunned by some. It wasn’t just that we were going to adopt, but that we were doing to adopt a child from Haiti, a child “not of our color,” as one disapproving relative put it (a relative who has since disowned us). “Why would you want to do that?” many ask. I’d like to just say, “Because we’re freaks, that’s why.” But I know our latest adventure is too good an opportunity to pass up. Our God-led decision to adopt is an awesome testimony of God’s presence in our lives, of His command to care for the orphans, of His love for each one of us. I can’t wait to see what God will have us do next. So go ahead, call me a “freak”—just don’t leave out the “Jesus” part.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

Something Missing in the Christmas Spirit By Brittney Switala

Maranatha, Inc. | Home of the Manna

mom and her young children carry a bag of groceries and a blanket to a local rescue mission for the homeless. On the other side of town, a group gathers to sell Christmas trees to raise money for a battered women’s shelter. There is something beautiful about the Christmas Spirit displayed all around us. It is a time when people make an extra effort to be kind. People tend to generously tip those who serve them and purchase lavish gifts for those they love. There is extra value placed on gathering together as a family and simply eating a traditional meal and reading old tales like T’was the Night Before Christmas. Things like twinkling lights and music add to the Christmas Spirit. It’s a festive time that makes you feel warm inside like you’ve just had a cup of hot cocoa. It is a season of goodwill that celebrates character traits that line up with Judeo-Christian values such as generosity, kindness and charity. There is great emphasis put on giving to those in need. Much of the book of Proverbs encourages treating others in ways that exemplify the Christmas Spirit. One example is found in Proverbs 14:31 which says, “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” It is wonderful when people treat others well, but this action is not inherently Christian. All major religions have something similar to the “Golden Rule” or a rule of reciprocity—treating others the way you would want to be treated. Generosity is celebrated by many religions. In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad is widely quoted as saying, “Nothing shall ensure the welfare (and interests) of your religion except generosity and good disposition.” The Dalai Lama said, “[The] practice of generosity and the other perfections is essential. This is because the fully enlightened state of Buddhahood is produced by the realization of favorable causes and conditions” (Stages of Meditation). In fact, such values are not just celebrated by any number of religious groups but also by the non-religious. Billboards and buses in major cities have challenged the notion that the special “goodness” we see at the holidays has anything to do with religion at all. Atheists have encouraged people to “be good for goodness sake.” Non-believers are organizing blood drives, raising awareness of human trafficking and alleviating poverty (by providing microloans through secular charities). In fact, some of the wealthiest and most generous people of our time, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, have no religious

affiliation. Last year, Bill Gates even released his own top five list of charities to bless with giving at the holidays. While people of all different backgrounds contribute to charities, there is still a great deal of internal conflict. For example, in October, a soup kitchen in Spartanburg, South Carolina, got plenty of negative press for excluding atheists from volunteering. Its executive director said she would resign from her job before she would let atheists volunteer and be a “disservice to this community,” adding that her Christian organization that runs the soup kitchen “stands on the principles of God.” The Upstate Atheists gathered across the street and raised over $2,000 to give care packages to homeless people. Why the conflict? Why are Christians sometimes uneasy walking hand in hand with atheists, Muslims and Buddhists who are working for the good of humanity? This is the “Christmas Spirit.” It is helpful and kind and shows love to the community. It meets immediate needs, but it is of little eternal significance without an open expression of the Gospel. St. Francis of Assisi is attributed to the often-used quote, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” The religion-neutral Christmas Spirit is alive. This is a season when words are necessary for followers of Christ. Not necessarily the in-your-face, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” but “I am giving you this bag of groceries with love from Jesus.” What churches may do at the holidays to reach out to the poor in the community is not evangelistic unless the Gospel is clearly shared. Since so many groups are giving generously there must be something distinctive about the Christian. We may internally know our motivation for giving is because of a personal relationship with Christ, but no one else will know that unless it is clearly and lovingly verbalized. Long ago, December held a celebration of another kind. There were great feasts and a longing for warmer and longer days ahead. People built bonfires to give the sun-god strength and bring him back to life again. In the fourth century, church leaders in Rome decided to celebrate Christ’s birth during the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianize these popular pagan celebrations. If in our holiday feasts we don’t thank God the Father, it’s just like “Winter Solstice.” If in our charitable giving and volunteering we are not pointing people to Christ, it is incomplete…and a wasted eternal opportunity.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

readThePhillyManna.org

P H I L A D E L P H I A

Share it with anyone! Use email, Facebook, Twitter to send a great magazine to a great friend.

The Christmas Flower By Fran Tatum

s a young mother, I tried to make Christmas perfect for my family. Ours was a tight budget, but we managed the trimmings, the baked goodies and the presents. Each Christmas it seemed that no matter how hard I tried to do everything just right something, some little thing, or some big thing, would go wrong. A present on order would not arrive in time for Christmas morning or an extended family member would get upset for one reason or another… something. One year, while wrapping presents at the kitchen table, I realized that everything seemed to be going well. It was the day after Thanksgiving, the shopping was nearly completed, and the season ahead was peacefully planned. If we could keep a happy atmosphere in the home during the coming weeks it would be a perfect Christmas indeed! Noticing beautiful poinsettias on the wrapping paper, I found myself cutting one out and taping it to the refrigerator. Later that day I had an idea which I shared with my two daughters. Why not play a game this year and consider the poinsettia on the refrigerator our “Christmas Flower”? It could symbolize the “Christmas Spirit” in our home. We would pretend that this special flower could only survive where true Christmas Spirit existed; otherwise, it would die. If greediness, excessive arguing, complaining, or anything “not nice” permeated the atmosphere, it would kill the flower and the flower would have to be taken down. Both of my girls, aged fourteen and four at the time, thought my suggestion was a good one and agreed with me that we would do our best to keep the Christmas Flower blooming throughout Christmas. I was convinced I had been inspired and we would have the best Christmas ever! Over the next few weeks everyone was extremely careful in word and deed. No one wanted to be responsible for the removal of the Christmas Flower! Not a harsh word was spoken and all faces seemed to smile, at least in the vicinity of the Christmas Flower! We actually made it all the way to Christmas Eve with the flower still in bloom. On Christmas Eve, I was in the living room when I heard a commotion coming from the kitchen. Loud sounds erupted simultaneously—the breaking of glass, the barking of our dog, and the shouting of angry voices. I hurried to the kitchen and found my grandmother’s antique dish on the floor broken in pieces, my daughters in conflict to the point of tears, and our dog now eating some freshly baked cookies which were also scattered on the floor. It was as if a grenade had exploded in the kitchen! Upon

seeing me, both girls became silent. Without a word I went to the refrigerator, took down the flower, and threw it in the trash. At that point the girls went into damage control as they scrambled to clean up the mess and began to give opposing explanations regarding what had happened. I told them to leave the kitchen, I would do the cleaning and we would talk about it later. As I cleaned up the broken glass I thought back over the past weeks of our strained but “perfect” atmosphere. I thought of the Christmas message and the gentleness of God’s grace. My daughters and I had tried to be good and to maintain Christmas cheer in the home. The plan was doomed to fail from the beginning because we were simply trying too hard. A few minutes later my girls and I had a heart to heart talk. I told them that explanations concerning the fiasco were not needed. The important thing about that evening was that we recognize the true Spirit of Christmas is Christ Jesus and his Spirit is one of grace. Our tears turned into laughter as I asked their forgiveness for ever putting that “blooming flower” on the refrigerator in the first place! That night God’s grace shined brightly for all of us! Our talk ended with a vow not to make the Christmas Flower a tradition! Christmas is not about our attaining perfection. It is not about a blissful, emotional feeling (although I am thankful for those times). If anything, Christmas is about our imperfection and the need for a perfect Savior to come into a messy, smelly, imperfect world. The message of Christmas is God’s beautiful and complete grace for our defective and inadequate lives. It is a time to celebrate Jesus coming to satisfy God’s perfect standard for us because we could never do it on our own. What an irony that I had attempted to celebrate His Advent by leading my daughters in trying their best to be good! What a blessing that the experiment failed in such a dramatic way so that we will never forget the lesson we learned from it! Let’s face it: even at Christmas things may go wrong, especially when we try so hard to do everything right. Sometimes the best of our intentions will be misunderstood. The most concentrated efforts on our part will sometimes not be enough to get the job done to please everyone. We may even say something for which we later have to ask forgiveness. Stuff happens and we might be tempted to think that we, or someone around us, has just ruined Christmas. Not so! The truth is, when something requiring God’s grace occurs, that’s when Christmas can really happen if we will open our hearts and allow His grace to flow!

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

The Case For Claus By Josh Millwood

like Santa Claus. This is pretty close to heresy in some Christian circles. In others it’s no big deal. Same with other hot button topics like Halloween, alcohol or whether women should speak in a corporate worship setting. Christians are like any people group— strongly opinionated, obstinate and quite certain that we are not only right, but that you are wrong and we’ll see you admit your wrongness or so help us God we’ll picket your next gathering with hateful signs made up of posterboard, markers and glitter. That need to be proclaimed right is a poison to the Church. Recently I posted a question for my Facebook friends: Are you for the Claus or against him? Why? I was unprepared for what ensued. I figured a lively debate. I figured a handful of jokes. I didn’t figure on a two-day battle bordering on the absurd. At times terms like “Christological and theological overlaps” did battle with the “propitiation of Christ” and “pre-frontal cortex.” Turns out, people have very strong beliefs about the goodness or badness of Santa Claus. Their convictions fall somewhere between a shoulder shrug and willingness to enforce with physical violence. My intent when asking about Santa Claus was to craft my own reasonable defense; a case for Claus, if you will. I still think, at its core, the idea and story of Santa Claus is perfectly acceptable for Christians to embrace—because Christmas is a spiritual, religious and cultural celebra-

tion. The vast majority of how we celebrate Christmas (including the actual date) is borrowed or stolen from other cultures, religions and practices. But I don’t think I could present an argument that would do little more than get an “Amen” from those who agree with me and a “Well wait one darn minute, Mister...” from those who disagree with me. So why broach such a divisive subject? Well first off, it’s just funny to watch people’s blood pressure rise. That’s not particularly Christ-like and I’m a little bit sorry about it. But just a little bit. The real reason is to draw attention to something of incredible importance during the Christmas/Advent season: What we agree on is much, much more important than what we disagree about. We agree about Jesus. The most important story ever told begins with the birth of a little boy in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Believing in Jesus unites us into the very family of God. If we can agree on Jesus, everything is going to be alright. Santa Claus just gives us a chance to talk about how we disagree with one another. Let’s start with some common ground: our love of Christ. Both His love for us and our love for Him. We are united in a faith that was crafted along with the foundations of the world. We are included in the family of God because of Jesus Christ (whose birthday is coming up, FYI). We could insert the story of His life, death and resurrection here, but let’s skip forward. It’s been a couple

thousand years and the story of Jesus Christ has permeated history. His followers are called Christians and struggle to live in service to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are totally dependent on God. Not only for salvation, but even the very strength to live for Him comes from His Spirit. And it’s hard, y’all. Being a living sacrifice for the God we cannot see and Whom we experience so infrequently is just hard. So we try to discipline ourselves to be more like Jesus. We create rules to follow with the holy intention of keeping our flesh submitted to the will of God. That creates two problems. The first problem is that we do not depend on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in order to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Instead, we create and enforce rules that deal with outward actions and not our hearts. This is actually a pride issue. We supersede God’s rightful place of authority with our own institutions. The second problem is that not everybody agrees on the rules. So we split into groups that like certain rules. And then we split again into smaller groups. And again. And again. Now we have names for each and every different little group with its own ideas about what rules are good for us to best live for Christ and how best to live out those rules. We are the dysfunctional family of God. Like your immediate family gathered around the Thanksgiving dinner

table, the Church is going to fight, yell, disagree, laugh, cry and hopefully end the meal at peace. “Freedom in Christ” is defined and experienced differently by everyone. As a group of people united by a common faith in the Son of God, we’ve got to learn how to disagree better. We don’t have to agree on everything. The disciples bickered all the time and they lived with Jesus! I like Santa Claus. I sometimes say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry CHRISTmas.” I’m not remotely offended by the shorthand “X-mas.” I also celebrate the birth of my Savior during the Christmas Season which, in my family, lasts from the end of the World Series in October to the Feast of Epiphany in January. You might be different from me. That’s awesome! A world full of me’s would be absolutely horrifying. When Christians bicker about unimportant things we run the risk of ruining a joyful time for our brothers and sisters out of a self-centered need to be right. Plus, we misrepresent Christ to the lost. I can’t even count how many times I have wounded someone I love because I needed to be right. Merry Christmas to all. Happy New Year. It’s not the case for Claus that’s important—it’s the case for Christ. May each day be a reminder of how much God loves you. After All, He sent us His Son.

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

Unfiltered

Think Out Loud

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Charles Shultz

White Christmas: Michael Curtiz It can be difficult to watch a movie that is considered a Christmas “classic.” It’s not that the movie might be bad, most often they are good, but the older it gets, the harder it is to understand where it’s coming from. It’s all about the frame of reference. White Christmas is 56 years old now and although still fun to watch, you just might wonder if people ever really bought someone bursting into song like Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney or shuffle into a dance like Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen. The age of the musical has been over quite a while now. But, the music—now that’s a different story. Really more than anything, White Christmas is a vehicle for the songs of Irving Berlin and the voices of Crosby and Clooney. That’s really what a musical is. But, the “classic” parts of the movie are those great songs sung well. And, who hasn’t heard the movie’s title track? There are other songs that you will be trying to get out of your head until way into spring. “Snow”, with its four part harmonies, makes going outside in freezing temperatures seem idylic. “The Old Man” pushes you to march in formation right out to your turkey dinner. Clooney and Ellen deliver “Sisters” with stiffled smirks and playful jabs at each other’s ribs. Okay, maybe all of the songs aren’t great—what exactly “Mr. Bones” is doing in this movie, other than taking up some time, I’ll never know. Maybe, it’s just to show that Irving Berlin wasn’t perfect. Still, White Christmas is fun and it’s only once a year. - Joe Willey

Maranatha, Inc. | Home of the Manna

In 1965, with just a few months to complete the task, Bill Melendez, Charles Schulz, and Vince Guaraldi created a 25 minute animated cartoon with a simple message that has endured for 44 years. The project was sponsored by Coca-Cola, who intended to sell Coke, but inadvertently produced two timeless phenomena. To everyone’s surprise, Vince Guaraldi pulled off the unlikely task of making a jazz soundtrack enjoyable to children, and created an album that can make a jazz fan out of any adult. “Linus & Lucy” became the theme song for Peanuts. “Christmas Time is Here” became a Christmas music staple. But a phenomenon of eternal significance occurred when Charlie Brown poses a simple question whose answer escapes all the Peanuts characters but Linus. In the midst of practicing for the Christmas pageant, he solemnly recites the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke while illuminated by a symbolic spot light. Linus concludes with “and that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Apparently Schulz insisted on the scene staying in the final cut, reportedly saying “If we don’t tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?” He succeeded in bringing the gospel to millions. Schulz’s straightforward manner of sharing the gospel of Christ is a lesson to behold. It involves one who is seeking an answer, one who has encountered light, and the sharing of that truth in a simple fashion. No great persuasive arguments, no fanfare, no tugging at emotional heartstrings, and no awkward discomfort. Linus simply says “Charlie Brown, you asked, and I believe this is your answer. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior.” As Charlie Brown embraces that truth, it has an immediate effect on him and his view of the world. He stumbles a little with his failed attempt to decorate his pitiful tree. But out of

that a beautiful thing happens. His seeking and acceptance of the truth has begun to impact those around him, and the whole gang acknowledges the moment singing “…glory to the newborn King.” - Brent Timmons

and misunderstanding. Leviticus is a jewel, though, and you will see it only if you dig for it. Leviticus covers the worship and community practices of the ancient Hebrews. It’s all there – very bloody animal sacrifices, dietary prohibitions and sexual practices. It is a book of restraint, restraint, restraint. You get the feeling those Hebrews could do nothing without raising the ire of God. They were to be so different than anyone else and untainted by the cultures around them in the land God had given them. There is glory in the gory, though, and Leviticus shows one thing clearly. God cares about all these rules and regulations. The most mundane detail is covered. God even cares about mixing two different types of materials in the making of clothes. Incredible! All of these rules reflect the difference between God’s standard and ours, and that is the very sharp point of Leviticus. God is different, set apart; in a word, He is holy. - Karen Punches

The Story: Various Artists Multi-Dove Award winners Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms co-wrote this entire saga of Bible stories-turned-songs, based on Zondervan’s The Story. The songs themselves are performed by Christian music’s biggest hit makers: Brandon Heath, Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Bart Millard, Francesca Battistelli, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, and many, many more. But the songs are much more than just Bible stories put to music—they tell about the hearts of real people, from the perspective of the actual Bible characters. Instead of being a narrative, each song is like a glimpse into the private journals of a variety of individuals and families in the Old and New Testaments. Adam and Eve beg for forgiveness after being tossed from paradise. Abraham and Sarah marvel at having a child in their old age. Moses admits his weaknesses. The double-disc set takes the listener from the genesis of the world to Christ’s triumphant return (powerfully sung by Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech). In particular, the Old Testament songs shed light on the relationship of God to the founders of our faith. This album had every chance to be a corny Bible musical but it is relentless in its honesty. Musically it is deep, rich and modern. Lyrically it will leave you weeping. - Karen Punches

Leviticus: God If the Bible as a whole is read infrequently even by Christians, then Leviticus is the book covered in the dust of apathy

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs: John Foxe The object of Christianity is overcoming suffering and evil in the world through strength which comes from Christ. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is a timeless classic which chronicles the victories of His followers over everything their detractors could bring against them. Next to the Bible, perhaps no other account demonstrates and imparts such faith in the face of unspeakable agony, from which death was deliverance. From the persecution of the first Christians to the witchhunt for English protestants, this saga shows the courage of believers who refused to renounce Christ, regardless of the consequences. This is not a volume for the faint-hearted. Sadistic torture is described in graphic detail. Its encouragement is how God’s grace enabled victims of corrupt religious leaders and greedy sovereigns to endure to the end. Instance after instance shows them forgiving their tormentors and asking God to do likewise. They faced the horrors of execution gladly because they were considered worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. These examples show how God enables us to be unafraid to die, and to overcome the enemy of our souls by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. - Randy Walter

readthephillymanna.org | December 2013

readThePhillyManna.org

P H I L A D E L P H I A

Advertise with us

Philadelphia! CONACT

ckieffer@readthephillymanna.org