CHRISTMAS GREETING 2019
2019-LUMglobal-Christmas-letter.pdfPosted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Our sincerest Christmas greeting and best wishes to you from our little ministry "bungalow" in the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona. This is our third year of writing from the Foothills area immediately east of Yuma.
Yesterday we were discussing how many countries we had spent Christmas in and realized it had been only four ---- United States, Ukraine, Costa Rica, and Colombia. However, we have spent Christmas in many states over the years.
But, no matter where we are, our hearts and minds always turn to Bethlehem. We still remember our one visit to the Holy Land in October, 2008, and memories are still vivid of having to change tour guides and vehicles as we crossed check points, faced guards and soldiers, and experienced the often cynical and angry remarks from those who had been taught to reject the Christ child. Even today it is difficult to understand how the Prince of Peace could have been born in a place that now seems to be governed by hatred, resentment, religious bigotry, and unbelief.
But . . . Bethlehem seems to actually be a microcosm of the entire world.
Yesterday, as Bob wrote his weekly "Shoulder To Shoulder" letter, we thought of those special words that try to capture the Incarnation of Christ. As he wrote, he ran across the literal Hebrew translation for "Immanuel". As you see in the attached Christmas greeting, it should more accurately be translated, "With Us [is] ---- GOD!" He then posted the following yesterday morning on his Facebook page:
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"This morning I sent out my weekly Shoulder To Shoulder letter, writing about Isaiah's prophecy in 7:14 -- stating that Jesus would be called 'Immanuel', which means 'God with us.' You remember the text; it was the one the angel Gabriel spoke to Joseph in Mt 1:23.
"Have you noticed that when a convener or master of ceremonies introduces a special guest in a gathering, they often begin by saying, 'We have with us tonight . . .' or 'We are happy to have with us . . .'? Even our President often uses this phrase when recognizing someone at one of his many rallies. Even a sports announcer uses that grammatical structure when introducing teams ---- 'Playing today are . . ." Seldom does anyone say, '{John Smith) is with us.' Usually we say, 'We have with us (John Smith') or 'With us we have . . . .'
"Well, that is actually the way the Hebrew language is in this prophecy from Isaiah. Instead of reading 'God with us', as you and I are accustomed. It actually says, 'you shall call His name Immanuel meaning, 'with us [is] -- God!'
"That may not mean much to you, but it speaks volumes to me because it places the focus on God Himself being present. This is described later in Isaiah when He is identified as our wise and amazing counselor and guide, our omnipotent all-powerful eternal God, our eternal never-ending intimate father, and the reigning prince of peace, quietude, contentment, and safety (Isa 9:6).
"John described it perfectly when he wrote, 'In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth' (Jn 1:1, 14).
"That's the story of Christmas.
"With us [is] -- GOD!"
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So, please accept our Christmas greeting attached to this note. IF for some reason the attachment is stripped, please e-mail us at lifeunlimited@pobox.com and we will personally e-mail a copy back to you.
Be blessed above and beyond all you can imagine this Christmas season . . . and throughout all of 2020.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and For His Kingdom,
Bob and Jo Ann
The Tollivers
Bob Tolliver
Life Unlimited Ministries
LUMglobal
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