The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.                  (Luke2:1-21 ESV) [1]

When Jesus was born there was no room for Him in the inn.  Is there room for Him in your heart?  Please give Jesus a birthday present.  Believe and be saved.

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/2.htm

 

Please Pray

Please take a moment to pray for all those who must be away from home, away from family and friends on Christmas, in the service of our country.  Our military personnel, contractors, embassy staff, intelligence people, and others make a special kind of sacrifice to serve us, during the Holidays.  May God bless them all.

The Annunciation

About the time that Jesus was born, a priest name Zacharia was visited by the Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel informed Zacharia that his wife Elizabeth was going to become pregnant and bear him a son. Zacharia and Elizabeth were past the usual age of childbearing. Up until that time, they had not been able to have children.  Zacharia did not believe what Gabriel was telling him. So, his ability to speak was taken away from him until after Elizabeth gave birth.  The child was John the Baptist.  (Luke 1:5-25, 57-62) 

Mary was related to Elizabeth, and when Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy, Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth.  He told her about her part in God’s plan. 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

Mary’s response was different than that of Zacharia.  Instead of doubting the angel’s message, she asked for an explanation of how it was going to happen. She believed. 

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.” 

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38 NIV) [1] 

Please note Mary’s willingness to do the will of God.  Now, in those days an unwed mother would be ostracized, and her child would be considered a second-class citizen.  Mary was betrothed to Joseph.  How would he react?  Yet, Mary said, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

The Word says that an angel of the Lord God showed Joseph in a dream that Mary was innocent of any wrongdoing, and that he was to take her as his wife: 

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’” 

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.  But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.                                            (Matthew 1:18-25 NLT) [2] 

Joseph also believed and obeyed God.  Praise the Lord.

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/1.htm 

[2] https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/1.htm

 

 

A Reason to Celebrate

While in prison for his faith, the Apostle Paul wrote his protégé, Timothy, about the reason Jesus Christ came to live among us, that we must not be ashamed to testify about Jesus, and the promise of His return.  Let’s keep these things in mind as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit 
who lives in us.  (2Timothy 1:9-14 NIV) [1]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/1.htm

 

Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

The birth of the Jesus Christ in Bethlehem was foretold by the Prophet Micah:

 

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel,

whose origins are in the distant past,

will come from you on my behalf.

(Micah 5:2 NLT) [1]

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/micah/5.htm

 

Immanuel

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, 

and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).

(Isiah 7:14 ESV)[1] (parenthetical added)

 

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

(Isiah 9:6-7 ESV) [2]

[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/isaiah/7.htm
[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/isaiah/9.htm

Venezuela

The United States of America is clearly massing forces in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and other strategic locations.  What we are doing looks a lot like what we did before we liberated Kwait and again when we invaded Iraq.  Our military presence is becoming sufficient to mount an invasion of Venezuela if President Trump elects to do so. 

Anyone who follows the news is aware of the reasons why some people think deposing the communist dictator Nicolás Maduro Moros necessary.  Salient among them are that he is a criminal and a thug who is heavily involved with the cartels and Iranian-backed terrorist organizations.  He is deeply implicated in smuggling deadly drugs into the United States, facilitating the illegal migration of criminal gang members, and with trafficking in human beings. 

To stay in power, Mr. Maduro has released criminals from prison and used them to coerce the Venezuelan people who oppose him into submission.  Those who oppose Maduro have often had to flee the country.  To support his rule, he has allowed China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba to use his country as a base to expand their influence in the region. [1] 

It seems clear that the actions of the Maduro regime threaten the safety and security of the peoples of the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere.  The question is, then, how far are we willing to go to end that threat? 

Americans are generally a peace-loving people.  We do not want war unless it is forced upon us to defend ourselves.  In principle, I agree with President Dewight Eisenhauer: 

“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen

its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” [2]

Consequently, I will support the use of military force within the borders of Venezuela only if it is clearly demonstrated that it is necessary and if there is no other way.  I believe that the American public needs to be convinced of its necessity, and I am against entering into another war unless we are unified and resolute.  Our government must get everybody on board before that ship sets sail. 

If we begin, we must be willing to see it through – to resolve the matter in our favor no matter how long it takes.  Too many times, we have entered into conflicts on foreign soil with popular opinion in favor of it, only to see support for the war effort dwindle over time.  Our people favor swift victories, and do not want to commit our human and financial resources to wars that drag on and on without resolution.  Our enemies see this as a weakness, and they exploit it. 

My support of military action within Venezuela is, therefore, subject to the following conditions: 

In the past, I have repeatedly said that I strongly oppose putting the lives of our troops at risk unless we are willing to do whatever it takes to win.  This includes using weapons systems that will devastate the enemy.  Our opponents must not be allowed to have any safe haven; not in their own country or in any other country. 

In the interest of national unity, I think President Trump must obtain the authorization of congress by a full roll call vote, not just from congressional leaders or a committee.  It doesn’t matter whether he has the authority as president to do it on his own.  Our government must be unified in support of military action.  Not one American should die in Venezuela without the full support of our government.  It also means that, at least in this one case, the members of congress must set partisan politics aside and vote their conscience. 

When I was 14 years old, we lived (barely) through the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Given the improvements in modern delivery systems, enemy bases in Venezuela would pose an even greater threat.  In truth, the American people have not been made fully aware of the nature and extent of this peril, and it must be fully disclosed to the congress and the people in any discussion of our nation’s alternatives in this situation. 

Everyone must understand that regime change is not the only goal of our military action.  We need to stop the Russians, Chinese, Cubans, and Iranians from using Venezuela as a base of operations to spread their influence in the Western Hemisphere.  In other words we need to kick them out.  The whole thing will be a wasted effort if we do not. 

Venezuela is training its military to fight an asymmetrical, guerilla-type war of resistance to a US military incursion.  Much of the country is heavily forested.  Most of the population is concentrated in its coastal cities.  The topography is varied, and it includes agricultural lowlands and mountainous terrain – all of which lends itself to the same kind of fight we had in Vietnam. 

The Venezuelan people would like to be rid of Maduro, but they were not willing to accept US offers of help from Vice President Pence, during the previous Trump Presidency.  Things may be different now, but we should not depend on the Venezuelans to welcome us as liberators.  We should also expect to be criticized and condemned by the rest of the world. 

In short, I think we will have a lot tougher time of it than we expect if we invade.  I think a blockade (also an act of war), support of the anti-Maduro resistance movement, stringent economic sanctions, and clandestine, covert operations offer alternatives that should receive full consideration. 

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” [3]

Sun Tzu

 

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[1] https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-moves-venezuela-maduro-regime-gets-beijing-lifeline-amid-us-tensions

[2] https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/dwight-d-eisenhower-quotes

[3] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dwight_d_eisenhower_136897