I’ll be home for Christmas,
     If only in my dreams.”
              –Kim Gannon and Walter Kent

    “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”
              –Ezekiel 22:30 (NASB)
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I thought about not writing an Echo this week, but I would be remiss if I forgot those men and women who serve faithfully.  Those who are deployed and away from their families at Christmas.  I was fortunate that in the six years I served in the Air Force that I was stateside, never away from family.  I knew of those in Vietnam, Korea, Turkey, and other places in the world that would be missing something special.  Something that we often take for granted until it is gone–being with family at Christmas.
    My Dad was away from home for two Christmases during World War II.  I know he spent the Christmas of 1945 in Japan during the Occupation.  The year 1944 saw him in the Philippines.
They look at the same sky–those who are deployed.  Pappy, Annie’s Dad, was in Europe for Christmas 1944.  What were their thoughts and feelings?
    Think about it, there are those who are standing in the gap.  Those who have sacrificed time with family during the Christmas season to protect our freedom to celebrate Christmas.  There are many who would take it away, and we are beginning to see a host of them at home trying to do the same.  
    But if you know someone who is deployed or will not be able to be home for Christmas go outside and look up.  Those who are deployed will look at the same sky.  Oh, if they are south of the equator there will be some differences, but it will still be similar.  Come to think of it, when the Baby came from heaven and the angels appeared in the sky it was very similar to what it is today.  Now we have a few more objects made my man floating around in space, but overall the stars are the same, the moon hasn’t changed much.  The planets are moving in the same orbit.  Isn’t God a wonder?
    Most likely this is the last Echo for the week.  Miles may show up tomorrow.  Next week, I’m not sure; I’ll just take it one day at a time.  Here’s to you and your family–have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Be thankful for those who stand in the gap for you:  our military, law enforcement officers and other first responders.

Therefore, as we grow older, let us be more thankful that the circle of our Christmas association and of the lessons that they bring, expands!  Let us welcome every one of them, and summon them to take their places by the Christmas hearth.”
       –Charles Dickens  (“What Christmas Is”)

    “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
              –Luke 2:1, 4-5 (NASB)
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It is reported that Martin Luther was the first to bring the “Christmas Tree” into his house during the festive Christmas season.  Some cry “pagan” and want to denounce the tree.  But what is it actually?  A piece of wood, needles that fall to the floor when they dry out, something to hold ornaments, or is it more?
    Jesus spoke often of trees.  He cursed the fig tree, He spoke of the birds building nests in the tree, He mentioned that good fruit comes from a good tree, He even spoke of the branches of the tree.  However, there was one more aspect regarding the tree; the person who was hung on one and died was cursed.

         “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’–.”
                   –Galatians 3:13(NASB)

Jesus was cursed because He became sin, He took the sins of the world upon Himself so that we might know salvation.
    Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to disregard the tree or to think of it only as something to take up space in the living room at Christmas.  Maybe we should take another glance at it, see the presents under it, feel the warmth it gives the room, wonder in the light it gives off when decorated.  Maybe we should see it in the way Charles Dickens did,

         “Now, the tree is decorated with bright merriment, and song, and dance and cheerfulness.  And they are welcome.  Innocent and welcome be they ever held, beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which cast no gloomy shadow!  But, as it sinks into the ground, I hear a whisper going through the leaves.  ‘This, in commemoration of the law of love and kindness, mercy and compassion.  This, in remembrance of Me!'”

Look at that tree one more time, be still, get quiet and think.  Think of the Child who was born to eventually die upon a tree for our redemption.  Wonder of wonders!

No, it wasn’t like the Christmas like the folks have nowadays—
     They are livin’ more in comfort, and they’ve sorter changed their ways—
     But I sorter wish, old pardner, we could brush the years away,
     And be jest as young and happy, as we was that Christmas Day.”
              –Bruce Kiskaddon

    “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.”  
              –Luke 2:29-31 (NIV)
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Brrr, I can remember some cold days around Christmas.  Of course, the days when I was a kid didn’t seem so cold.  I could get out and play, sled, have snowball fights, but as I got older the work came along.  There were many a day out working in the cold where the temperature was below zero.  Boy, oh howdy, my toes are curling just thinking about it now.
    Most of the time in Colorado the wind came from the west, but I can remember those times when Old Man Winter sent his wind down from the north.  Texans talk about a Blue Norther, but when the cold sets in up in the high altitudes of the Rockies or a blizzard begins to howl, well, be ready for a cold spell.  Sure hope you have plenty of wood to feed the fire.
    A few years back I stumbled across a song, the lyrics by Michael Martin Murphy.  It set me to thinking about those who have to work out in the cold.  Those who have to work alone doing their daily chores.  

         CHRISTMAS ON THE LINE

         That old north wind, howling high up in the timber
         The only choir that I remember,
         I was riding on the line.
         One lone star, hanging over the horizon
         Like the one that led the wise men
         As they followed heaven’s sign.
         Snow-capped peaks
         Like the angels in their glory
         Seem to sing the ancient story
         As the wind blows through the pines.
         Drifting along to the sound of spurs jingling
         Like silver bells ringing
         Christmas on the line.

    I don’t know who wrote this, but someone referred to a line camp as a “cowboy monastery.”  He was alone in God’s great cathedral, listening to the sounds of nature sing the Christmas story, and who knows, if the angels didn’t join in with the sound of the wind.  Of course, there may those who would disagree and say that a line camp could cause a person to go stir crazy, but there are those who see the hand of God even in the bleakest winter.
    Take a walk this Christmas season, or at least sit for a spell out on the back porch.  Bundle up, grab a cup of coffee (or since it’s Christmas, a cup of real cocoa) and feel the touch of the Lord in the crisp breeze.  He is there, He will always be there.

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things–not the great occasions–give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
              –Bob Hope

    “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.”
              –Job 19:25 (NIV)
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I was reading, I think it was Barna’s Report, where 33% of Millennials (that’s one-third folks) stated that “secret Santa” was too stressful.  The thought of it brought anxiety, stress, and tension to the work place.  Yet, now get this, 30% (almost the same number) of Millennials said that the boss/company/employer should take the place of “Santa” and provide the gifts.  Ponder that!  What happens to the wonder of giving?  Buying a present for someone else causes stress?  However, they still want their present–from the “boss.”  As if he should be required to give one.
    Monday I mentioned Mary and how she must have been a very mature young woman.  One who had tremendous faith and loved the Lord.  I want to look at Joseph.  If anyone were to have stress I think it would be him.  Think of it–he had the responsibility to raise the Son of God.  The job of training, educating, and discipling would fall to him.  
    We know little of Joseph except what is given in the Christmas story.  He was a just man.  He loved Mary.  He had to be a man of exceptional character if the heavenly Father was going to allow him the responsibility of raising His Son.  He was a carpenter (some today say a stone mason).  He went to Bethlehem for the taxation because he was of the lineage of David.  He was warned in a dream to flee, so he took Mary and the child to Egypt.  From there, the family eventually make it back to Nazareth.
    We have one more story concerning Joseph.  It was after the Feast of the Passover.  For some reason, Jesus stayed behind while Mary and Joseph and the others returned to Nazareth.  Think of the concern of Mary and Joseph.  Think of the consternation of Joseph–the charge left him by the Father was missing.  

         “After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.  Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple courts sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, the were astonished.  His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.'”
                –Luke 2:43-48 (NIV)

Joseph had been given the awesome responsibility of taking care of Jesus–the Son of God.  He was missing.  Ponder for a minute what might have gone through the mind of Joseph.  (Oh, and a side-note, read verse 51, “…But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.)
    After this Joseph is never mentioned again.  Maybe this incident gave him a heart attack.  No?  I don’t think so either.  But I do believe that he died while Jesus was a very young man (manhood came at age 13).  Was Joseph possibly a Zealot?  For example, Quinctilius Varus crucified two thousand ringleaders, whose leader was Judas, in a revolt near Nazareth.  Nine years later, another Judas led a revolt in the same region.  Perhaps Joseph named two of his sons after the Maccabeus–Simon and Judas.  Scripture records that the brothers of Jesus, the sons of Joseph and Mary, were James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon.
    The region around Nazareth was a rough area, one that was prone to violence.  Did Joseph die in some type of violence?  Or was he a victim of a job accident or disease?  If he died while Jesus was a young man, that would be a legal and logical reason for Jesus not to enter His ministry until one of the other brothers was of age to take care of the family.
    Oh, such things to ponder.  One more little thought to leave you with.  “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man…” (Matthew 1:19, NIV).  This means that he was a man who followed the Law, but also indicates that he was a man who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him.