Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP161224A
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00:00 ♪♪
00:11 ♪♪ [ Clarinet solo ] 00:31 ♪♪ ♪♪ 00:51 ♪♪ ♪♪ 01:11 ♪♪ ♪♪ 01:31 ♪♪ ♪♪ 01:51 ♪♪ 02:02 ♪♪ ♪♪ 02:16 >> ♪ You left your throne ♪ ♪ And your kingly crown ♪ 02:26 ♪ When you came to Earth for me ♪ 02:35 ♪ But in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ There was found no room ♪ 02:48 ♪ For your holy nativity ♪ ♪ O, come to my heart ♪ 03:06 ♪ Come to my heart, Lord Jesus ♪ ♪ There is room in my heart ♪ 03:24 ♪ For you ♪ [ Clarinet solo ] 03:45 >> So, this our Christmas call. And I'm gonna invite you to 03:49 stand as we read this call together. 03:51 Sinegugu Katenga. Katenga family, very active in 03:56 our congregation. Sinegugu grew up here, one of 03:58 our young adults, a college student. 04:00 She's gonna read with you. It's a responsive reading. 04:04 Those of you on live stream, by the way, you'll see on the 04:08 bottom-third will be our reading. 04:11 Feel free to join in that reading as we respond to God's 04:18 call to meet him here. 05:10 Let us pray. As the carol sings, yea, Lord, 05:15 we greet thee born this happy morning, but dear God, please, 05:21 this has been such a year of surprises. 05:26 Shock, really. We hardly know what to expect 05:29 next. And so if it's okay to just 05:33 blurt it out, we come to this Christmas Eve Sabbath seeking 05:37 stability and security and some sort of assurance. 05:42 We don't need answers right now. If we could just have the 05:46 assurance that what you taught the angels to sing, peace on 05:52 Earth, good will to men and women and children. 05:55 That that is a prayer that you are still planning to answer, 05:59 which is why we keep singing and praying. 06:02 ♪ O Come ♪ ♪ O Come Immanuel ♪ 06:05 ♪ And ransom captive Israel ♪ Oh, Father, whatever the future 06:10 turns out to be, we come to you with a prayer, Christ will come 06:16 to us sooner rather than later, please. 06:21 And so we worship you now. In His beautiful name, Amen. 06:27 >> Amen. 06:31 ♪♪ ♪♪ 06:51 ♪♪ [ Congregation sings ] 12:20 >> Glad to have you. Oh, we got -- 12:23 We've got a congregation right here, that's what we've got. 12:26 We've got the future of the church right here, that's what 12:28 we have. If time lasts long enough. 12:31 Nice to have all of you. All right, guys. Grab a seat. 12:34 Don't forget, something special for you in just a moment. 12:39 But first, a story. I want to make sure everybody 12:43 gets a chance to get up here. Yeah. 12:45 Well, Happy Sabbath, and a Merry Christmas Eve to you. 12:50 Good to have you. Glad you're here. 12:53 Anybody have family or friends visiting? 12:56 Family or friends? Ooh! Anybody here family or friends 13:00 visiting? You're visiting here? 13:03 Any visitors here? Oh, we got some visitors. 13:05 Good. Always nice to have you. All right. 13:10 All right. Good. Now, Dad and Mom, if you're 13:15 bringing your child, just take a place on the floor right where 13:19 you are. Just let me have the center 13:21 aisle here. Let me trade places with you. 13:25 Good to have you, moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas who 13:29 come up for Children's Story when they have their 13:31 grandchildren visiting. Oh! That's wonderful! 13:34 I wish Little Ella were here, but she came in October, 13:37 so we're still happy. All right, nice to have you. 13:42 So, question #1 -- do you like to sit in the back seat of a car 13:45 when nobody knows you're there, and you're just riding along for 13:49 the ride? >> Yeah! 13:51 >> Question #2 -- do you like to ride in a car at 2:00 in the 13:55 morning in the back seat? >> Yes! 13:57 >> Okay. [ Chuckles ] I can tell we got real experience here. 14:01 Question #3 -- Do you like it when the car is going 14:05 100 miles an hour up the interstate? 14:08 >> Yeah! >> Well, dumb questions for this 14:12 group, I understand that. That's what we're gonna do! Shh! 14:16 We're in the back seat! Shh! Shh! Shh! 14:17 We don't want them to know we're here! Shh! 14:20 Because father jumps into the car -- that's father Marshall -- 14:23 jumps in the car, Mother Tenisha jumps in the car. 14:26 She said, "Honey, we're gonna have to go. 14:28 I've done this twice before, but I think this is the third time. 14:31 I think we have time, but let's just start moving. 14:33 Let's start moving. 2:00 in the morning. 14:35 Can you start driving?" Ford Escape -- I hope you like 14:37 being in a Ford Escape because we're in the back seat of a 14:39 Ford Escape, and father Marshall starts -- 14:41 [ Imitates engine revving ] He said, "I got to find the 14:43 Dan Ryan freeway in Chicago!" This is just a few days ago. 14:46 In Chicago! It's 90/94 going north into the 14:50 town. "I got to get on that freeway!" 14:51 As soon as he got on the freeway -- 14:53 [ Imitates engine revving ] "Oh, hold on! 14:55 Do you have your seatbelt on? I hope you have your seatbelt 14:57 on!" "Are we going that fast? Really? 14:59 Oh, don't look! Don't look!" But in the meantime, father is 15:02 just clutching the steering wheel, and mother's like -- 15:04 [ Groaning ] "What's the matter? 15:05 What's the matter?" "I think the baby's coming." 15:08 [ Groans ] He said, "Shh!" 15:11 [ Groaning continues ] They're going to the 15:15 University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center. 15:19 "I don't think we're gonna make it! 15:21 We're only 10 minutes up the highway!" 15:24 Father says, "I'm looking, I'm looking! 15:26 I'm looking for an exit. Here comes an exit! 15:29 West 43rd Street!" Zoom! There he goes off the exit. 15:32 It's 2:00 in the morning. There's nobody out. 15:34 He drives along a little street, there's a street light, and he 15:37 stops. [ Groaning ] "I think the baby's 15:40 coming, I think the baby's coming!" 15:42 He dialed three numbers. What did he dial? 15:44 >> 911. >> He dialed 911. 15:46 But then, fortunately, mother Tenisha -- she had been watching 15:50 birthing videos. So she kind of knew what has to 15:55 happen. So she's giving birth on her 15:57 own. >> What happened? 16:00 >> Father later told the reporter, "She's screaming, 16:04 the baby's screaming, and I'm screaming." 16:07 [ Laughter ] Pretty soon the ambulance has 16:12 come, racing with the police. Let's see a picture of the 16:16 ambulances and let's see the little baby that got born on 16:20 that street side, please. We're looking for that picture. 16:24 There were go. There he is, little 16:28 Miller Rambert. The ambulance attendants, the 16:33 EMTs, they grab mother and baby, put them in that ambulance. 16:37 [ Imitates wailing siren ] To the hospital. 16:40 Father racing behind. And the good news is -- 16:43 Next picture, please. The good news is -- Aww, little 16:46 Miller is doing just fine. He's joining his two older 16:50 brothers. Oh, my -- This is a question 16:53 just for the girls. Just for the girls. 16:55 Girls, would you rather be born in a Ford Escape or in a 16:59 hospital? >> Hospital. 17:01 >> [ Laughs ] You can see why didn't ask the boys. 17:04 All right. This question -- [ Laughter ] 17:07 This question is for God. We're gonna ask God a question. 17:13 He's listening right now. He's listening very carefully. 17:16 Dear God, would you rather be born in a Ford Escape or a 17:21 hospital? Or a box of cow food? 17:25 >> Nasty! >> What would God choose? 17:29 >> A stable! >> We already know. 17:32 He says, "I want to be born in a manger." 17:35 So that no little boy can be born on Earth, no little girl 17:38 and say, "My family's too poor. God must not love us." 17:42 Are you kidding? The poorer you are, the more you 17:46 can know the God who came is as poor -- 17:50 He was poorer than you. Say the verse out loud with me. 17:54 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son 18:02 that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have 18:09 everlasting life." Amen. 18:14 That's what we have Christmas. God chose a place where he would 18:18 be born. So that every one of us could 18:22 know he's just the kind of God I've always wanted. 18:29 What a God. So, when you gather with your 18:32 family tonight or tomorrow, it's not about the gifts you get 18:36 there, it's the gift you've already gotten in Jesus. 18:40 Amen. Now, we have a gift for you. 18:44 And as you're going -- We're gonna sing a song. 18:46 We're gonna sing ♪ What Child Is This? ♪ 18:48 ♪ Who laid to rest ♪ So, the moms and dads will be 18:50 singing, you'll be getting your gift, and I wish you a blessed 18:54 and Merry Christmas. Amen. All right. Let's sing. 19:00 ♪♪ [ Congregation sings ] 21:54 ♪♪ >> ♪ Starlight shines ♪ 22:09 ♪ The night is still ♪ ♪ Shepherds watch from a hill ♪ 22:18 ♪ I close my eyes ♪ ♪ To see the night ♪ 22:25 ♪ When love was born ♪ ♪ A perfect child gently waits ♪ 22:37 ♪ A mother bends to kiss God's face ♪ 22:44 ♪ I close my eyes ♪ ♪ To see the night ♪ 22:49 ♪ When love was born ♪ ♪ Angels fill the midnight sky, 23:04 and they sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ 23:11 ♪ He is Christ, our King ♪ ♪♪ 23:28 ♪♪ ♪ Emmanuel, Prince of peace ♪ 23:42 ♪ Love come down for you and me ♪ 23:48 ♪ Heaven's gift, the holy spark ♪ 23:54 ♪ To light the way inside our hearts ♪ 24:00 ♪ Bethlehem, through your small door ♪ 24:06 ♪ Came the hope we've waited for ♪ 24:12 ♪ The world was changed forevermore ♪ 24:20 ♪ When love was born ♪ ♪ I close my eyes ♪ 24:31 ♪ To see the night ♪ ♪ When love was born ♪ 24:44 ♪♪ 25:03 >> Thank you. That was beautiful. 25:09 "The world was changed forever the night love was born." 25:15 Let's pray. Oh, God, it's that truth that 25:19 compels us, compelled by the love of Christ. 25:24 Our lives changed forever. Because of the night love was 25:30 born. What's that mean for us now? 25:35 Unpack it, dear God. These moments that we have left, 25:38 let it be clear. We pray in Jesus' name. 25:43 Amen. Have you noticed that we can 25:49 grow up hearing a story and end up never hearing the story? 26:02 I was telling our guests who joined us for our Messiah 26:06 sing-along this last Sunday -- beautiful service, thanks to 26:10 Jeannie Pedersen-Smith and her Sanctuary Choir. 26:13 So, we have the sing-along, and we had guests, and I told them 26:17 a story about a little teacher. On the last day of class before 26:21 Christmas, she said, "All right, boys and girls, we're gonna 26:24 draw. Everybody draw a picture of 26:26 Christmas, okay?" So those little heads bent over, 26:31 with paper and crayons, they began to scribble and color, and 26:35 few moments later, the teacher's walking up and down the rows, 26:39 admiring, "Ooh, Mary, very nice! I recognize the Three Wise Men. 26:43 Good! That's good!" Ooh, Johnny! Snowman! 26:47 Lovely, lovely." "Sue. The manger. 26:53 I can tell it." She stopped by Jimmy's desk 26:57 because she said, "Jimmy, you missed the point. 27:00 It's supposed to be a Christmas picture. 27:03 You've drawn a picture of a jet plane with three people on it, 27:08 and somebody in the front." Jimmy said, "But, teacher, 27:12 this is a Christmas picture. This is Joseph and Mary and the 27:16 Christ Child on their flight to Egypt." 27:19 [ Laughter ] The teacher said, "But who's -- 27:23 Who's the one up front?" And he said, "That's Pontius, 27:27 the pilot." [ Laughter ] 27:32 Have you noticed -- not just kids, but as adults -- we can 27:35 grow up hearing the story, but never end up really hearing the 27:42 story. That's the case, perhaps, with 27:47 today's story from Luke 2. Our Christmas homily's entitled 27:51 "The Christmas Robe: A Meditation on the Swaddling 27:54 Cloths." Open your bible to Luke 2. 27:58 Luke 2. The sisters Angela and Sinegugu 28:01 just read these words with us. We go back to them. Luke 2. 28:05 I want to pick it up Verse 4. I'm in the New Kings James 28:08 version. Verse 4. 28:10 Because Caesar Augustus said it, "Yo, everybody go here." 28:13 They think probably King Herod softened it up for the Jews 28:16 because they're big on genealogy. 28:18 They're gonna get taxed out of this enrollment and census, 28:21 but he's softening it up. So they all got to go to their 28:25 hometown. 28:34 Verse 5. 28:50 A feeding trough. 28:55 The great early 20th Century English poet, 28:59 William Butler Yeats wrote a dark, bitterly self-critiquing 29:04 poem not long before he died. The title of the poem -- 29:08 "The Circus Animals' Desertion." The poem ends with these words. 29:13 No study guide today. You need to follow along, so 29:15 I'll put it on the screen for you. 29:17 It ends with these words -- 29:30 Do you get that? 29:40 It's rather curious, is it not, that the son of God is born in 29:45 the very same place Yeats and you and I were born? 29:51 All of us. It isn't very pretty at the 29:55 beginning. If you can see somehow beneath 29:58 the glistening skin of an infant, what's inside? 30:04 Not so pretty. Yeats describes the content of 30:08 this foul shop with these words. These appear just before the 30:12 words we just read. You see them on the screen. 30:27 "In the foul rag and bone shop of the heart." 30:34 It does seem rather curious that the son of God would be born 30:39 where Yeats and you and I have been born, doesn't it? 30:43 Isaiah, the ancient Gospel prophet, he wrote it this way, 30:47 familiar words. Three sentences. 30:49 I'll run them by you. First sentence -- 30:57 Which being interpreted means "God with us." 31:01 Here's the second sentence. 31:11 One more line. 31:19 Her own way. 31:26 "I must lie down where all the ladders start. 31:31 In the foul rag and bone shop of the heart." 31:38 There Christ was born. We just read it. Verse 7. 31:58 Foul. 32:07 Where? "In the foul rag and bone shop 32:10 of the heart." That's where he's born. 32:14 Born in our rags. So that one day, we might be 32:20 dressed in His robe. Can you believe that? 32:24 Our rags for His robe. His robe for our rags. 32:32 That would be the greatest gift exchange in all time and 32:36 history. Our rags for His robe. 32:42 Have you noticed we can grow up hearing a story and never quite 32:47 end up hearing the story? "Now that my ladder's gone, 32:54 I must lie down where all ladders start, in the foul rag 32:57 and bone shop of the heart." That's where we all begin. 33:00 Christ and you. And me. Yeats. 33:09 And, tragically, it's where too many of us, like Yeats, end up. 33:16 Still in that shop. On the 75th anniversary of his 33:22 death, The Atlantic magazine ran a critique of Yeats' three 33:26 last poems. Indulge me by letting me put all 33:30 the words. Just a few sentences here, but I 33:33 need you to just get them by seeing as well as hearing, and 33:36 so we'll put the words on the screen. 33:39 There's no other way you can read it. 33:40 Here are some selected sentences. 33:54 Quoting The New York Times -- 34:12 The critique goes on... 34:31 ...which we've been reading... 34:56 The critic goes on... 35:16 Vanity, vanity. Another gifted man. 35:19 Didn't he write somewhere "Vanity, vanity, everything is 35:23 vanity?" [ Clicks tongue ] 35:33 A rather bleak assessment of the human heart, isn't it? 35:40 I mean, your heart and mine. The truth is, you stare long 35:44 enough at any of us... And you will be bitterly 35:48 disappointed, for there is no savior among us. 35:50 There is nobody here who can heal me of my foul rag and bone 35:55 shop of the heart. Which precisely reminds you why 36:03 Christ was born, wasn't He? You remember these? 36:08 Matthew 1:21, the angel to Joseph. 36:17 You remember this from the Gospel prophet, again, Isaiah 1. 36:31 Remember these words from the apocalypse, Revelation 3:18? 36:35 Red-letter words. The risen Christ Child. 36:48 There it is -- 36:55 In a familiar old story we read forever. 37:01 Our rags for His robe. His robe for our rags. 37:05 "In the foul rag and bone shop of the heart." 37:09 He was born in swaddling rags. He one day might be clothed in 37:15 a white stainless robe. Our rags for His robe. 37:24 I'll tell you what, I can't imagine the good news get any 37:27 much better than this, can you? You remember that morality tale 37:30 that some obscure prophet scribbled down at God's command? 37:35 About the spiritual leader in that faith community being 37:39 exposed for who he is, dressed in filthy rags? 37:43 You remember that one? Dress in filthy rags, and there 37:46 is a dark accuser standing right beside that leader. 37:51 The Hebrew calls him "The Satan." 37:55 The prosecuting accuser. "The Satan," who hisses at the 38:01 being on the throne, that this man is so foul and miserably 38:06 guilty that there is no hope for him. 38:11 To which the being on the throne, quite contrary to proper 38:17 convention, calls out, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan!" 38:24 Is not this is a brand plucked from the fire? 38:27 And then God turns to those around his throne, and he speaks 38:31 these words, Zechariah 3:4, on the screen. 38:41 The fallen one, he said... 38:53 Our rags for His robes. Our rags for that robe. 38:59 I don't suppose this Christmas there could be a gift exchange 39:04 greater than this. Our rags for His robe. 39:14 So, I want to end -- I want to end with a quotation 39:18 from Camron Scofield. Then "Steps to Christ." 39:23 And then I have a story I want to read to you. 39:26 First, Camron Scofield. His book 39:28 "Heralding the Loud Cry" summarizes this stunning gift 39:31 exchange. Oh, look at this. 39:33 Put it on the screen, please. The human race fell. 39:40 We came to this position where we could not do anything 39:44 right, but God wanted to save the human race. 40:25 Jesus' perfect life. Yours. I tell you what, this notion of 40:31 exchanging my filthy rags for His beautiful robe, it's just -- 40:34 It's a great metaphor, but I can't figure it out. 40:36 I mean, what do you do? How do I get this off, 40:38 and how do I put that on? Camron says, "No, no, no, no. 40:42 It's not that. Think of it another way." 40:45 It's the Christ Child born in that trough who grew up to be a 40:50 young adult. And then under the brutal 40:54 24/7 assault of the Satan... Clung with a radical faith to 41:05 His father. Night and day. 41:10 And hammered out in the forge in the crucible of this Earthly 41:14 existence. Hammered out a spotless and 41:18 perfect life. Here's what it is. 41:21 It's not robes and rags. It's that life. 41:26 That life becomes, if you wish, the life God sees when he looks 41:32 at you. God says, "When I look at you, 41:37 when I think of you, I see His perfect life as your perfect 41:43 life." If you say "Amen" to my offer, 41:50 you got it just like that. If you say "Amen. I want it. 42:00 You can have these rags..." I don't know what kind of 2016 42:04 you are leaving behind, but there isn't a soul here proud of 42:08 what's happened this year. Not a soul. 42:13 I can't think of a better day than today to say in your heart, 42:17 not to anybody seated besides you, but to say to the one who 42:20 is hovering over you right now, to whisper to him, 42:23 "I give you this year. I give you my rags. 42:28 I take your perfect life. I say 'Amen' to Your robe. 42:33 Your Christmas robe. I say 'Amen.' I receive it." 42:41 And just like that, you have it. Buy it from me without money. 42:49 White garments to hide your nakedness. 42:53 Ladies and gentlemen, I'm telling you, it doesn't get any 42:57 better than this that I can think of. 43:01 "Steps to Christ," and then the story. 43:03 So, here's this quotation. Oh, I hope you jot the reference 43:06 down. By the way, if you don't have 43:07 the "Steps to Christ" right now and you're watching on live 43:10 streaming or you're watching on television, I got a deal for 43:12 you. You call this number -- 43:13 Nobody knows that I was gonna do this, so there's no number going 43:16 on the screen. Maybe they'll get it by the time 43:17 it's over. You call 1-877 -- That's a 43:20 toll-free number for you. 1-877-HIS-WILL. 43:23 The two words, "HIS WILL." You ask for "Steps to Christ." 43:27 You saw it here, and we'll send it to you, our gift. 43:30 The book is yours. You've got to have the book. 43:34 Turned my life completely upside-down. 43:40 Anyway, this is "Steps to Christ," page 62. 43:43 Put the words on the screen. Talking about filthy rags. 43:53 Are you kidding? We can't obey the law of God. 43:55 We can't even obey the laws of the land! 44:00 Don't look to me, I'm a rebel at heart, and so are you. 44:03 Ever single one of us. Powerless to change our "foul 44:10 rag and bones shop of the heart." 44:13 But God says, "Give me your heart." 44:16 Keep reading. "Steps of Christ" continues. 44:32 I'm telling you what, ladies and gentlemen, there's no greater 44:35 gift exchange in time or history than that exchange. 44:38 "Give me your life, and I will give you my perfect life I lived 44:41 out for you." Right now. 44:48 My filthy rags for His stainless, sinless life. 44:53 One more line. Gets only better. Keeps getting better. 45:15 In 2016. 45:21 I'm telling you, it doesn't get any better than this. 45:25 It can't get any better than this. 45:28 You got it. Say "Amen" in your heart, 45:32 and you have it. You have it. 45:37 Just as if you had not sinned. Oh, my. 45:42 When God looks at us, He sees our perfect and beautiful savior 45:48 instead. Wow. 45:51 My rags for His robe. His robe for my rags. 45:53 The Christmas Robe. For all of who want it. 45:56 No, no, no. For all who want Him. 45:59 That's how it works. Now I end with a story. 46:05 It's a beautiful story. I remember the first time I read 46:08 this story. I have the actual magazine right 46:11 here. My parents subscribe for Karen 46:15 and me, Guideposts Magazine. You have to be an old person to 46:18 remember Guideposts Magazine, but you remember Guideposts. 46:21 Okay. So, this story appeared, I'm 46:24 four months out of the seminary. Four months. Young pastor. 46:29 Published in Guideposts Magazine. 46:31 Written by Dina Donohue. Title of the story -- 46:35 "Trouble at the Inn." Here we go. 46:38 "For years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked 46:40 about in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone 46:43 is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. 46:46 Wally's performance in one annual production of the 46:49 Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. 46:52 But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never 46:55 tire of recalling exactly what happened. 46:58 Wally was 9 that year and in the second grade, though he 47:01 should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he 47:04 had difficulty keeping up. He was big and clumsy, 47:07 slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was well-liked by 47:11 the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than 47:14 he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when 47:17 Wally would ask to play ball with them or any other game, for 47:20 that matter, in which winning was important. 47:23 Most often, they'd find a way to keep him out, but Wally would 47:27 hang around anyway -- not sulking, just hoping. 47:30 He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, 47:33 and the natural protector, paradoxically, of the underdog. 47:37 Sometimes, if the older boys chased the younger ones away, 47:40 it would always be Wally who'd say, "Hey, can't they stay? 47:42 Come on, they're no bother!" Wally fancied the idea of being 47:46 a shepherd with a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, 47:50 but the play's director, Miss Lumbard, assigned him a 47:54 more important role. "After all," she reasoned, "The 47:58 innkeeper did not have too many lines, and Wally's size would 48:01 make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful. " 48:05 And so it happened that the usual large, partisan audience 48:08 gathered for the town's yearly extravaganza of crooks and 48:12 creches, of beards and crowns and halos and a whole stageful 48:16 of squeaky voices. No one onstage or off was more 48:20 caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. 48:23 They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the 48:25 performance with such fascination that from time 48:27 to time, Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn't wander 48:30 onstage before his cue. Then the time came when Joseph 48:35 and Mary appeared. Slowly, Joseph tenderly guiding 48:39 Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the 48:43 wooden door set into the painted backdrop. 48:46 Wally the innkeeper was there, waiting. 48:49 "What do you want?" Wally said, swinging the door 48:52 open with a brusque gesture. "We seek lodging." 48:56 "Seek it elsewhere!" Wally looked straight ahead but 48:58 spoke vigorously. "The inn is filled." 49:02 "But, sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. 49:06 We have traveled far and are very weary." 49:08 "There is no room in this inn for you!" 49:12 Wally looked properly stern. "Oh, please, good innkeeper, 49:18 this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child. 49:20 She needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small 49:23 corner for her. She is so tired." 49:25 And now, for the first time, the innkeeper relaxed his stiff 49:31 stance and he looked down at Mary. 49:36 With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the 49:40 audience a bit tense with embarrassment. 49:43 "No! Begone!" the prompter whispered from the wings. 49:46 "No!" Wally repeated automatically. 49:48 "Begone!" Joseph sadly placed his arm 49:51 around Mary, and Mary laid her head upon her husband's shoulder 49:55 and the two of them started to move away. 49:58 The innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however. 50:02 Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn 50:06 couple. His mouth was open, his brow 50:09 creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears. 50:15 And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from 50:18 all others. "Don't go, Joseph," Wally called 50:24 out. "Bring Mary back!" 50:27 And Wallace Purling's face brightened with a big smile. 50:30 "You can have my room!" [ Laughter ] 50:36 Some people in town thought that the pageant had been ruined. 50:40 Yet there were others -- many, many others -- who considered it 50:44 the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever 50:50 seen." "Oh, come to my heart, 50:56 Lord Jesus." "You can have my room." 51:03 Let's sing it. Let's pray it this Christmas. 51:08 This Christmas Eve. Oh, Come To My Heart, 51:14 Lord Jesus." It's Hymn 140 in the hymnal, but 51:17 watch the words on the screen. You'll be able to track it 51:20 there. It's a beautiful, beautiful 51:21 hymn. And I'm gonna ask you to stand 51:28 as we sing together. 51:34 ♪♪ ♪♪ 51:46 [ Congregation sings ] 54:31 >> And so, God, we sing to You, our prayer. 54:34 Oh, come to our hearts, please. Lord Jesus, in this waning 54:40 moment of 2016, come in. You can have my room. 54:46 There is room for you. Really. There is room for you. 54:52 Come. And in coming in, Lord Jesus, 54:57 stay. Won't you please? 55:01 Stay here. Every step of the way. 55:08 We humbly pray. And now may the grace of the 55:15 Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the 55:23 Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 55:31 ♪♪ 55:46 >> Karen and I wanted to take this family moment at the end of 55:49 our worship celebration to let you know how grateful we are for 55:52 you. I've often wished that through 55:53 the miracle of technology, there'd be some way to turn this 55:56 screen into a two-way window so that we could see you even as 55:59 you're looking at us. I guess that would be like 56:01 Skyping our little granddaughter Ella. 56:03 But what a conversation we could have together. 56:05 >> One reason we have to be thankful is for your prayers. 56:09 You'll never know the impact your prayers have on this 56:12 ministry, on us, and our entire team. 56:15 We get letters literally from around the world, and nothing 56:18 boosts our confidence more than to hear that you're praying for 56:21 us. Thank you. 56:23 >> Another reason I'm personally grateful to God is the very 56:26 gifted team of young producers and techs who lead our 56:28 television, our live-streaming, and our online ministries. 56:31 And get this number -- Out of the 50 team members, 56:34 47 are volunteers who cheerfully give their time to make 56:37 "New Perceptions" possible. I say -- God bless them all. 56:41 >> And maybe you'd expect us to say this as another year draws 56:44 to an end, but we're also thankful for the financial 56:47 support of viewers like you who make this ministry possible. 56:51 If you've been blessed this year, we'd like to ask you to 56:54 join the hundreds of people who financially support our 56:58 New Perceptions ministry. It's simple to do. 57:00 >> It really is. Just call our toll-free number. 57:02 You'll see it on the screen now. 877-HIS-WILL. 57:07 One of our friendly operators will be happy to assist you. 57:09 You can also click on the "DONATE" link at the top of our 57:12 website. Trust me, no gift is too small 57:15 for God to use to spread His good news. 57:17 And let me remind you -- Not a single penny of your 57:20 donation will come to me. Every gift is entirely invested 57:23 in our mission to communicate God's everlasting Gospel to what 57:26 we believe is an end-time generation. 57:29 So, once again, the number to call is 877-HIS-WILL. 57:34 >> And so this Christmas, from our family to yours, we wish for 57:38 you God's best gifts wrapped up in Jesus, day and night, all 57:41 through the new year to come. >> Because, remember, with 57:45 Jesus, the best isn't just behind us. 57:47 The very best is yet to come. So a blessed holiday to all of 57:51 you. 58:00 ♪♪ ♪♪ 58:20 ♪♪ |
Revised 2017-12-21