Tabitha is starting to slowly feel better but the question remains as to what was going on.  Her doctor has suggested a Pediatric Rheumatologist/Neurologist who may be able to eliminate some things.  Thanks for all of your prayers.  It means a lot.

The time has come to celebrate that the great, invisible, Creator-of-all-things made Himself visible to us and lived.  There are so many ways people celebrate; I just wish we would see a little bit more of the baby that was born in a barn.  Even at our local "Parade of Lights" festival, out of 73 floats there were only two with the Baby Jesus and none with a Menorah (I believe the story of Judah Maccabee and the Miracle of the Lights).  Even one of the mega-churches only had an advertisement for their play on theirs.  That's disappointing.

Those Judean stables were nothing more than a cave "out back" with some shelter built over it.  Having grown up in a religion that did not celebrate any holidays or birthdays I know many of the arguments about why Jesus could not have been born on December 25th, and you know what?  It doesn't matter when he was born, it matters that he was born, however, after doing some research; I found that due to its Mediterranean location its winters are rainy, but not frigid like a Northern Wisconsin winter.  I went to the Israel Meteorological Society's website and found today's forecast was partly sunny, with a high of 64, low of 45.  I got this quote from the GoIsrael.com tourism website:  "During September-November and April-June, temperatures are comfortable, there is little rainfall, making for ideal beach going weather and pleasant hiking in the desert regions.  Visitors to Israel in the summer should bring light clothing and bathing suits.  Winter visitors should have warm clothes and umbrellas.  Israel's winter is fairly comfortable and hiking outdoors is a pleasant option."  I found one person's website who said they sang Christmas hymns in ninety degree heat.

It seems to me that while the weather might not have been much fun for an older man (some historians say Joseph could have been in his 40's, old for the time, even though nowadays 50 is the new 30) on his way to be taxed with his young (Mary could have been as young as 13 or 14), pregnant wife to travel on foot (It is possible they had a donkey) the 75 miles through mountainous terrain, it could be done and since it was an edict from Caesar it had to be done.  Then when they arrive at the Inn, which was no more than a large house with a big open room where people spread their blankets out on the floor and slept end-to-end, head-to-toe, to find there was no room.  Any private areas would have either been taken by the very rich or by Roman guards.  There was always room for Roman guards, if you catch my drift, and thus two direct line descendants of King David himself could not find a space on the floor.

"You can sleep in the stable."

"But my wife is pregnant.  She's about ready.  We came all the way from Nazareth, which, believe you me, Mr. Innkeeper, is no picnic with a pregnant woman and a stubborn donkey."

"I'm sorry for you.  I have heard so many sob stories tonight you wouldn't believe.  You, your wife and your donkey can sleep in the one empty stall out there.  It will be warm and quiet."

"But what about the baby?"

"My wife is a midwife, she'll come help you, you'll have a nice bed of straw and she just washed all the barn-rags so there'll be plenty to swaddle the child in."

Since Joseph had seen an angel that told him about who the baby was, I wonder how much arguing and kvetching went on?  He knew he had seen the angel but what could he do?

"You know, Mr. Innkeeper, this baby isn't just any normal baby," Said Joseph, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "He's the Son of God.  The Messiah that should be born here and just think, it could happen right here in your inn!"

"Well," said Mr. Innkeeper in an equally conspiratorial whisper, "I'm the Queen of Sheba!  Now get out of here before you bother everyone else and I throw you out!"

Sin entered the world by one man, Adam and separated man from God, so God himself had to come to save us from our sins.  The only way to save us was for another perfect human of Adam's seed to be born and be tempted, only not sin.  The wages of sin is death and if this perfect man did not sin, then he could pay the wages of sin for us.  The only way he could do this was if the egg were not impregnated with the sinful seed of Adam and thus the plan was conceived (pun intended).  God's plan (In Biblical Greek, Logos, translated "Word" indicates not only the plan, but also the person who made up the plan, an integral, inseparable union of person and plan.) was to deal with the problem of sin by himself and so was created in the womb of a virgin, ("Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son...") the man, Christ Jesus.  He was the only invisible God in tangible form.  "I am the Lord and beside me there is no savior." "Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."  The manmade doctrine of the Trinity, created in 325 A.D. which states that God is three people, is wrong.  There are not three co-equal, co-existent, co-eternal beings, that are all different and yet somehow the same being, there is only one God and his name is one.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.   He was not a second person, somehow inferior, though co-equal, that the big daddy god sent out of heaven, he was God.  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  When you look at the face of Jesus you look directly at God.  He was 100% God and 100% man at any given time.  By being 100% man, he was tempted the same way all men are, but since he did not start out with Adam's sinful seed, he had the power to overcome temptation and did not sin.  This is how he can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities and can say, "Yes, I have felt that way."  He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not.  He was despised and rejected.  He was tempted.

He was not born as a king, but was born in a stable and laid in a food-trough called a manger, that the oxen ate from.  (Ever watched a cow eat, all slobbery and sticky?)  They wrapped him in some (clean) barn-rags and laid him in there for a bed.  Probably his first visitors were Bedouin shepherds who, having been visited first by an angelic messenger who was then followed by all the host of heaven appearing in the sky singing to herald the birth of the baby king, went to find this strange thing.

At the same time a group of astrologer/astronomers, "wise men", the so-called "Magi," had followed a strange and brilliant new star that had never been seen before, to the palace in Jerusalem.  The star "told" them that a new and important king was born.  These were important men, (think Daniel or Joseph as second-in-command to the king) who likely traveled in large caravans, which would cause no little stir in Jerusalem as they approached.  The Bible does not say there were 3 wise men, but it does mention 3 gifts.  Even though an argument can correctly be made that Jesus could have been as old as two when they arrived I also know God and know that he could easily have timed the whole thing so they would show up at the stable.  The reference to the "house" could merely indicate that the innkeeper had found a spot for them.

Anyway, whether you understand the baby in the manger was the Almighty Creator of the universe or just feel sorry for the poor little feller in the feed-trough, at least think about him in the next few days.

Remember, the Good Book says:

Matthew 2
     1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him...7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
     9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Luke 2
     1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
     8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.