In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:8-10)
It must have been an incredible sight. And what a surprise! The shepherds on swing shift. It’s the quietest time of the night. Everyone else is asleep, and perhaps the shepherds are too. Someone would certainly understand sleeping on this job. When suddenly, out of nowhere, a large, bright, extra-terrestrial being appears in the middle of their camp, and they are terrified. Understandable.
They are being summoned to witness undoubtedly the most extraordinary event in human history – a baby has been born, fathered by God Himself, and destined to be the savior of the world, and the shepherds are about to be escorted to maternity. They are most likely clueless as to what all this means. It’s not like they’ve been anticipating this moment. They are more likely just amazed… dumbfounded. Even the explanation probably escapes them. They are about to be herded just like the sheep they guard, to the scene of an invasion.
But the best and most amazing part of this message is that it is good news of great joy for all the people. All the people. Not just a select few. All. Jesus came for everybody. He died for everybody. He rose again for everybody. What everybody chooses to do with this information is their business and God’s but the point is He came to bring joy to everyone and the news of his birth should be just that… “great joy which will be for all the people.”
When the gospel message is put forth the way it first came to us, it is clearly a message for everybody. Christians have managed over time to couch the message in terms that only insiders understand. (That’s why we need evangelists to try and explain it to the world.) We have somehow created an inside and an outside, and we pride ourselves on being in. Jesus has always been out because He is for everybody. Subscribe a circle around Him and He will just go outside the walls, outside the gates, outside the city. These are terms actually used in scripture to describe His movements. Come on… nearby shepherds were the invited guests at his birth. Not a religious bone in their bodies.
There is something extraordinary about what we are trying to do with the Catch and I need your help to do it. We are trying to put a message out for all the people. We are seeking not to discriminate even spiritually. And as part of our year-end drive (that I have managed to botch pretty well according to my wife who knows about these things) I am unabashedly calling you to contribute to this work so that we can continue to move forward. I recognize these are difficult times, which is why I need more of you to step up and support this effort if we are to continue into the New Year.
How exciting… We’re here for all the people; we have a long way to go!
John Fischer The Catch 
We certainly romanticize the shepherds. But they worked long, lousy hours for low pay and were often recent immigrants … the modern day “taxi driver” of our day? What was God thinking going to them? How much would we listen to an immigrant taxi driver telling us a fantastic story?
For ALL people of the world. Why wouldn’t it be shepherds to pass the news around to their own culture, and so on and so on… I for one would listen John Haak. If we listen with our hearts, we can hear the message..
You got my point. God gave his great message to marginal characters so only true open hearts would listen. The so-called powerful and influential missed him as they still do today.
Have to agree with you John… well said…
hi John, i have been sending you these every year at Christmas, so you may remember. anyway, thanks for all you do. if you can use anything here…. feel free. Merry Christmas my brother !! Bare
Greetings to All of You !!
As always…. These little ponderings are never meant to do anything but encourage and cause some of your own ponderings. If you are new here, Welcome!! You are all blessings!! : )
Indeed it is time again for the Bare Christmas Ponderings. So let’s get right to it. What am I pondering this year?? As I asked myself that question, I realized that I am actually pondering…. pondering ( Even at the risk of being redundant ) You see, I started to ask myself what I spend time thinking about all throughout the year. Sure I only write this little ponderings at Christmas, but I need to face it, there is a lot of stuff that goes through my pea brain all year long. I wouldn’t say I necessarily dwell or obsess about things, but still there is a lot that permeates my thoughts. Like what you may ask?? Well things like…. I would love to be rich. I would love to be a star that will be remembered decades after I am gone. I would love to be bigger. ( The lifter’s motto…. You can never be too big !! ) I would like to be younger and better looking. ( Are either of those possible??!! A rhetorical inquiry for those of you who may feel the need to actually answer my attempt at humor ) I would love to travel more. Yea, yea, I could go on and on, but you are getting the picture. So now, it is only fair to ponder some responses to the above.
Rich. My goodness, I am soooo rich in so many ways. My Girl reminds me of this often. Plus, money itself never held much of a draw for me. Certainly not enough to go after it with passion. Sure I’d love to have it, if it were easy.
Bigger. I am blessed with good health and the ability of lift and work out.
For each of those things and more, there are legitimate answers as to why they mean little. So I brought myself back to…. What should I be pondering??
Oh at this time of the year it is easy to say Jesus and His Birth, peace on earth, truly being nice to people, etc. But why should I ponder those things more this time of year?? How about all year long?? Listen, I know when my time on this earth is up, that very few of my ponderings will matter. What will matter is what I have decided to do about this Man, Who’s Birthday we are in the midst of celebrating. I know that I am going to spend eternity in some place that will never have me wishing for anything ever again. I know when that time comes I will be totally content for possibly the first time ever in my existence. Most importantly I KNOW all of this is only possible because I believe Jesus is Who He said He was, and I asked Him to get me to this place by His Grace and His Grace alone. I KNOW I do not deserve any that Grace, but I am so thankful it is secure. Given all of that, I will continue to fight the human ponderings that I know will stay with me in this life, and try to ponder more of how totally awesome it is that He is going to come and get me one day and we will get on with this eternity thing. Sweet !! : )
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:3 NLT
How about all of you? As always, I treasure hearing any ponderings you have for me.
Thank you for being a part of my life.
Have a great Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus !!
Bare ( The Ponderer Boy ) : )