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Wendy Bakker sent this article written by her brother which captures the “shock value” for the birth of Jesus. Enjoy…
And You Will Find Him In A Blue Box
By Lloyd Rang (published in Christian Courier, December 13 Issue)
I have never met a shepherd.
I’ve never been to the “swaddling cloths” section of Zeller’s.
I have never seen a manger – although I pitched my share of hay bales, growing up.
And although I’m sure Quirinius, the governor of Syria, was a big deal back in his day, I know nothing about him.
I’ll bet you don’t, either.
The thing is, 2000 years ago, swaddling cloths and mangers were commonplace, everyday items.
Today, they sound exotic.
And then, there were shepherds. In Jesus’ time they were the butt of jokes. Social outcasts. And yet today, when our kids put on Christmas pageants, the Shepherds are always immaculately dressed in terrycloth bathrobes.
And that’s the problem with the Christmas story, as told in the Gospel of Luke. It’s so full of things that are alien to us that it sounds practically majestic. And, so, we miss the point.
Jesus wasn’t born into a world that was expecting him. He wasn’t born into some historical Hallmark Moment where everyone looked their Sunday best. He was born into a busy, working world. But because his time is so distant from our own, we forget just how amazing it was that the divine should come to a world so mundane.
So imagine the story if Jesus were born now – in an ordinary, workaday world? It might go something like this: Continue reading born in a blue box?
 Our son Nathan is on a one year internship with Urban Promise, a ministry “that exists to proclaim the love of Jesus, and to express it through the spiritual, social and educational development of children, youth and families living in government housing.”
November 17, 2010
Hello Everyone, I just have to say that I have continued to be blown away by the support I have received. It really is such a blessing to hear about all the people who are praying for me and supporting me financially. Receiving letters and email of encouragement is always amazing. I thank you so much.
In the past few weeks it really has been amazing to see God’s provision. There have been so many times where our camp has needed something, and suddenly it turns up seemingly out of nowhere.
The kids I have the opportunity to work with are awesome. One thing that has really been amazing was just the other day, my supervisor asked for volunteers to pray for our meal. One of the girls from our camp put up her hand, even though for the first few days of camp she was quite vocal in that she didn’t share our beliefs or believe in God. She wasn’t picked but it was still awesome to see. Continue reading update from Nathan
Our son Nathan is on a one year internship with Urban Promise, a ministry “that exists to proclaim the love of Jesus, and to express it through the spiritual, social and educational development of children, youth and families living in government housing.”
October 20, 2010
Hey Everyone, thanks for your prayers and support. The last weekend has been very eventful. I went to the US, a Marlies game, and Canada’s Wonderland. The Afterschool program is going awesome. We have an amazing facility, great street leaders (youth hired from the community to help) and plenty of kids. We actually have more kids than we can take, which is both a blessing and disappointing. Please pray for us as we continue to become friends with these kids, and as we deal with the ones that need more attention than others.
Have a great day! - Nathan
Our son Nathan is on a one year internship with Urban Promise, a ministry “that exists to proclaim the love of Jesus, and to express it through the spiritual, social and educational development of children, youth and families living in government housing.”
He sent me this update recently of what he is up to:
Hey Everyone!
I have moved into Toronto, and have already been through a week of Afterschool Program. I have really gained an appreciation for what Urban Promise does. It is impossible to meet these kids without immediately liking them. They definitely will teach me patience, but they are amazing nonetheless. Please pray for me as I go into week two of the program. Pretty soon I will be leading the Word UP (Bible Lesson) which is a pretty daunting task. I will be continuing to post updates here through my Dad’s Website so check back here Frequently!
Nathan S.
Hey, while we’re on the subject of eschatology (view of the end times), I thought I would bring up the idea of what happens to our pets if we are “raptured”.
In case you are concerned, you do have the option of signing up your pet for “Post Rapture Pet Care”, just in case.
Do you wonder what is going to happen to your pets when Jesus descends from Heaven to re-unite the Church with the Father taking all Christians – dead and alive – up to Heaven? Will your pets be left behind with no-one to care for them?
Have no fear! We at Post Rapture Pet Care are confirmed atheists and as such will be part of the left behind when the time comes. Just because we are atheists doesn’t mean we are not animal lovers. We adore all kind of pets and would love to look after your pets after you are gone.
For a small donation of £69.99 pounds, we will make sure your pets are well fed and taken care of long after you and your family have been taken up.
We have representatives in the South East of England and also in the North East of Scotland so can accommodate for most areas of the country giving you peace of mind where ever you are.
This is not a joke. We feel very strongly about pet care and want to offer the best possible services to British pet owners. Feel free to get in touch at pets@postrapturepetcare.com for more info.
Yes, it was a wonderful week on the Island (PEI). Valerie and I enjoyed a whole week of quiet relaxation. Thank You Lord! It was also good to see our friends at Charlottetown CRC. Thank You Lord, again! And above all, it was great to see our kids again when we came home. Thank You Lord!!!
 Check out article in Hamilton Spectator here On Monday May 3, 2010, the Lord took home His covenant children, Rachel Marie VanHartingsveldt, and her unborn infant daughter, Kaylee Elaine, as a result of a car accident.
Rachel, at the age of 21, beloved daughter of Pete and Elaine (nee Sikma). Loving sister of Ryan (Grace), Alicia (Ken) Boekee; Bradley and Kristin. Dear aunt of Amy, Carson and Justin. Beloved granddaughter of Philip & Rita VanHartingsveldt and Rose Rusticus (Sikma) and the late Pier Sikma & Ed Rusticus. Dear friend of Cohen Trolley. Cherished niece and cousin of Gerry & Dave deVries; Krista & Steve Driesman (Adriana, Janine); Valerie & Norm Sennema (Tim, Nathan, Janelle); Geoffery (Nicole, Jessica, Jonathon); John & Jen (Steven, Derek, Josh, Jacob & Ethan) and Christine & Steve (Alexe, Sam, & Taylor) and her Rusticus uncles and aunts Owen, Martin & Shayna, Sheila, Eric & Stacy. She will be sadly missed by her many friends. Psalm 8:2a “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise”.
Visitation will be held at MARANATHA CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, Hwy # 2 & Haines Rd. . Bowmanville on Thursday May 6th, 2010 from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. A funeral Service will be held at MARANATHA CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH on Friday May 7th, 2010 at 11am. Memorial Donations may be made to Durham Christian High School for a Tuition Assistance Fund or the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre (Hamilton ON) through the NORTHCUTT ELLIOTT FUNERAL HOME, 53 Division St. Bowmanville, with whom the arrangements have been entrusted. www.northcuttelliott.com
Please pray for a great measure of strength and grace as the family mourns this unfathomable loss.
 Today I chatted with an atheist.
Sitting here at Starbucks, working on my blog devotionals, I noticed he was reading Karen Armstrong’s The Case For God.
I appreciated his honesty: He was an ardent atheist, but was concerned that he was becoming close-minded, so he was exploring perspectives on God’s existence.
Most of the books he read by Christians were shrill (his word) and negative, but this book was connecting for him, opening the possibility of God for him. Continue reading chatting with an atheist
This is very disturbing, and breaks the heart, considering how much has been raised for the victims of Haiti’s earthquake. The original blog post is here.
Let me explain to you the anger surging through me as I sat in the back of our pickup truck at 2:00 AM with the limp form of a child draped over my legs.
Travel back with me to 1:15AM.
Whimpering…sobbing….in the gentle, hesitant high pitch of a child. In the distant corner of the courtyard of our hospital, under a tarp. She is trying to be quiet. She knows it is dark in the hospital, and people around her are trying to sleep. Mewing like a small, injured kitten. Tears run down her cheeks. Her legs are pulled to her abdomen. Heat rises off her febrile form, burning. Her lower jaw trembles as a wave of rigors shakes her small body. Blistering fever. Continue reading very disturbing (Haiti relief)?
As you can tell, we have a special place in our heart for Haiti. Here is an update from Dorothy Pearce who runs Faith, Hope, Love Infant Rescue In Port au Prince. We visited there when we went to Haiti, and have been praying for this work for the last few years. Here is Dorothy’s account of what happened. Find out more about here work here: Faith-Hope-Love Infant Rescue
We survived the earthquake, all of us. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!
Amanda, Natasha and I were just arriving at Sacred Heart Hospital (CDTI) near what we think was the strongest area of the quake. Jesula, our nanny who had been with Poutchino at the hospital, was collapsing on the ground outside, in shock. Natasha ran inside for Poutchino. We parked the car. A man carried Jesula to the car. She was frozen with fear.
Hospital patients were brought outside, injured people came in thru the gate. All hospital personnel worked thru the night and next day with barely a break. Amanda and I took turns holding a flashlight for a surgeon stitching wounds and gradually learned how to do more. Natasha had to stay in the car holding Poutchino.
Some people were beyond help: the doctors gave them medicines for pain and treated those they could help. I counted about 40 people who died during the 24 hours we were there, all ages. Security manned the gate, only letting in the injured people that the doctor felt they could help. Continue reading first hand account from Haiti
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