O LITTLE Town of Bethlehem (for sure!)

His name was Phillips Brooks. And the year was 1865. It was Christmas Eve, and Philips was riding horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he was to assist with the midnight Christmas Eve service. The memorable journey impacted him, and though he tucked away the inspiration from that night for three years, finally in 1868 Phillips Brooks shared that experience in the song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Originally a 5-stanza poem, he gave it to the church organist, Lewis Redner, who gave the poem its musical background.

In fact, Phillips writes about this experience… “I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the wonderful night of the Savior’s birth.”

Ah, Bethlehem…the Christmas City. Small, but oh, so important. After all, it was the birthplace of a King. It's also the subject of the literary apex of Micah's prophecy (i.e., the climax of what comes before and after) -- Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Culturally and geographically, Bethlehem was nothing compared to Jerusalem (Judah’s capital) or Samaria (Israel’s capital). It was a small town just south of the main city. Yet, it would be the centerpiece of the Savior’s birth! (It is actually set against these two major cities in 1:1.)

And Bethlehem isn’t the only small thing going on in this book. Professionally, Micah was not a major player compared to other prophets (like his contemporary Isaiah). Meaning ‘Who is like the Lord?’, Micah was one to do exactly that – lift up the Lord and hide himself behind the great character of God. He never left Judah from what we know, and doesn’t mention a single of Israel’s kings in his opening verse. He was a prophet without much attention.

Politically, his message wasn’t ringing well with the hearers. With all the kings in power at that time of Judah (Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah as described in the books of the Kings and Chronicles), who was going to listen to a lesser-known prophet from the region of Moresheth-Gath?

But God sees things differently, doesn’t he? Possessions, position and performance don’t make me more valuable to God, for he sees through the outer layer to the heart. Could there be any better message at Christmas?

Think about it – When most of the world will be wrapped up in these very things – possessions, position, and performance – does anything speak more powerfully to the message of Micah than a lowly manger in a stable, the air around it filled with the cries of a little baby? What could appear to be more “insignificant” than that? But the reality is this – nothing is more significant or important than the child in that manger!

No wonder the carol “Away in a Manger” became an immediate Christmas favorite when it was published. Though the actual author is unknown, verses 1 and 2 appeared anonymously in Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families in 1885, and verse 3 was later added by John Thomas McFarland. James Ramsey Murray printed all of them together in Dainty songs for Little Lads and Lasses: For use in the Kindergarten, School and Home in 1887. With no original tune, it was sung to tunes well-known already in England and America. Yet, the carol that seems to be a “lucky” collection of words and music from all over captures the heart of what really matters – the significance of a baby in a manger, the Christ child!

That’s where I want to start this Christmas season – and that’s where I want to stay -- at the seemingly insignificant manger in the small town of Bethlehem, where possessions, position and pride are all debunked and where true significance cries. Won’t you join me there this December – at the manger in Bethlehem – and let’s learn to value the significance of small things, not only this month, but all year long.

Merry CHRISTmas!

One Small But Significant Action

Few people in the early 1900's knew the hidden power of a single, small action better than James Flannigan, a pastor in Omaha, NE in 1917.

You see, while most of America was wrapped up in World War 1, checking the papers daily to see if their boy was on the list of those killed in Europe, Rev. Flannigan was concerned about the orphan boys right under his nose; the lonely, homeless, hungry children who sat right in the path he took everyday to his church.

Know what he did? He invited six of them over to his house on December 12, 1917. And that was the beginning of Boys Town USA. Yes, he simply saw a need – one that most thought was insignificant – and met it. And he's been meeting needs ever since.

Merry CHRISTmas!

The Small Gifts of Christmas

Small things can make a big difference! And small books can have a great impact. Such is the case with the short, self-titled book by the prophet Micah. In fact, it’s small things that Micah brings attention to throughout the three sections of his prophecy.

Micah is best understood based on its three divisions, each one marked off by the words “listen” or “hear.” And in each division Micah talks about the big, obvious, and loud – possessions and things (1:2-2:13), position and titles (3:1-5:15), and pompous worship and rituals (6:1-7:20). Yet, as an answer to each one, Micah shows that a simple shepherd will arise from a small town and simply save the day!

This shepherd theme runs through each of the divisions, showing us that our Savior was not an executive, a stylist, a showboater, or a self-absorbed egomaniac. He was a shepherd. Common. Plain. Probably ‘small’ in the eyes of man. But real. And really significant. And of all the verses in this little book, Micah 5:2 stands out as the significant text underscoring this principle, for it was the “little town of Bethlehem” that gave birth to the single greatest life in human history.

Truly, significance is wrapped in small things.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Nothing New Under the "Covers"

It’s the same old story told again and again: Success, stardom, then smallville. Hero to zero in 60 months or less. It’s exactly what happened to Samson, and its echo is louder than ever in the current saga of John Edwards (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/us/26edwards.html?_r=1&partne...).

I was commenting to my wife just last Thursday morning, as we were welcoming the day and catching some headlines, how startling it is to watch such a spiraling disintegration. From southern gentleman to Senator to VP/Presidential candidate to … well, the rest goes downhill. And fast. Pretender. Adulterer. Liar. Now thief?

I’m not commenting on his innocence or guilt relating to the most recent charges. I’m simply observing that little things make a big difference. Truly, it’s the small matters, left unattended, that, over the long haul, will turn into monsters that eat you alive. Heroes don’t dive to zeroes overnight; we only find out about it that way. This has been the course for all pseudo-shooting stars since time began. Solomon was correct – there is nothing new under the sun (or the covers).

The cameras don’t show you those small issues; they’re unattractive. And the media won’t tell you about the mundane matters; they’re boring. So they print and write about all your glamour. Your perfection. Your “rightness.” But if you let yourself believe you’re as pretty as the pictures show and as great as the articles say, you’re headed for trouble. One of the biblical writers said it like this: “If you think you’re standing tall, watch out! You’re about to fall.” (paraphrase mine)

That’s why it’s best to have real friends around you, not mere fans. Your friends will tell you the ugly truth so that you will avoid an even uglier future. And they’ll help you do, not deny, the small things that end up making the biggest difference in the end. Like daily prayer when no one is watching. Or regular Bible study even though there’s no message to preach. Or faithful giving when no one is around. Being polite when the camera is off. Consistent exercise after the race is over. Saying ‘no’ to the double scoop even when you’re out of town. Not watching the X-rated pay-per-view movies in the hotel on the business trip. Telling the truth to every question. Giving back the extra change when the clerk has counted it back to you wrongly (even if it’s a penny). Yep, the little things that seem insignificant now can end up being quite important later.

Why? Because they form habits. And habits either make us or break us. Negatively, when sexual lust is a hidden habit, we eventually find a way to act on it. It’s called fornication. Adultery. When financial greed is a hidden habit, we eventually find a way to act on it. It’s called stealing. When anger and resentment is a hidden habit, we eventually find a way to act on it. It’s called revenge. Assault. Murder. These sound unnerving and unsettling. But the whirlwind of evil deeds is usually sown by the wind of evil seeds.

The point? Live today like the little things matter. Because they do.