Jim Nance  What Was seen at Bethlehem? 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. I wonder what I would have heard and seen had I been there that night. It is a question that annually puzzels me. Would I have heard the choirs of angels singing or simply the sounds of barnyard animals shifting around? Would I have seen the star in the sky that night or simply two poor and very frightened kids. Would I have understood the hushed silence of the divine presence, or simply the chill of a cold east wind. Would I have understood the message of Emmanuel, God with us, or would the cosmic implications of that evening pass me by? I am convinced that if you or I had been there that night in Bethlehem it is quite possible that we may have heard and seen two entirely different scenes. I believe this because all of life is this way. God never presents Himself in a manner in which we are forced to believe. We are always left with an option, for that is God’s way. Thus, one person can say “it’s a miracle“ while another says “it’s coincidence.” Certainly very few people in the fields that night saw and heard and understood what took place. Were the choirs of angels singing drowned out by the haggling and trading going on like they are today? There was a bright star in the sky but the only ones apparently paying attention were foreign astronomers from the East. If anyone did take notice to see Mary and Joseph on that blessed night they were too preoccupied with their own problems to offer any assistance, much like today.S o what would we (you and I) have seen? In one of the All In The Family episodes that aired many years ago, Edith and Archie are attending Edith’s High School Class Reunion. Edith encounters an old classmate “Buck” who had become quite obese. Edith and Buck have a delightful conversation about old times and the things that the had done together, but remarkably Edith doesn’t seem to notice how extremely heavy Buck had become. Later, when Edith and Archie are talking, she says in her whiny voice “Archie, ain’t Buck a beautiful person?” Archie looks at her with a disgusted expression and says: “You’re a pip, Edith. You know that. You and I look at the same guy and you see a beautiful person and I see a blimp.” Edith gets a puzzled expression on her face and says something unknowingly profound, “Yeah, aint it too bad.” You see, what we see and what we hear in life depends not upon the events but rather who we are as people. It is not what is out there but what is inside of us that determines our perspective. Some saw nothing, some saw Everything. Merry Christmas A Cowboy’s Commitment to Christ   I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.   My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.   I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.   My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.   I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me--------my brand will be clear. Signed A Top Hand for JESUS