Archives by: Gary Hoag

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

“In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card… And because all men must send these cards the market-place is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness…

They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift…

This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush… But when the day of the festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine…

But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of the Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the Child…”

C.S. Lewis, “Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus,” God in the Dock (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970), 301-303.

Happy Christmas Eve!

To help you decipher the message for us from my favorite professor, you need to know three things. One, Exmas represents the commercialized observance of Christmas that forgets about Christ.

Two, Crissmas points to the holy day as remembering the birth of Jesus Christ. Lewis changed the spelling to get the attention of readers away from Christmas or Exmas as he viewed it.

Three, the Niatirbians point the residents Britain spelled backwards. In plain terms, if most British observe Exmas, then Niatirbians live the opposite of society to embrace Crissmas.

So, on this Crissmas eve, let’s keep our focus fixed on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God with us, tomorrow.

Instead of overeating, let us give generously to someone who is hungry. And instead of spending too much money on gifts, let us give charitably to spread the good news of Jesus to the world.

Happy 6,000!

Today marks 6,000 days in a row that I have posted a Daily Meditation. When I researched 6,000 in church history, I discovered something very interesting. Read on.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8

“For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works.” This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year.”

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon (c. 180 AD), wrote the five-book treatise Against Heresies 5.28.3.

I did not know that the early church fathers, building on the words of the apostle Peter, taught widely that human history would last 6,000 years and culminate human history with the seventh 1,000 years, known as the millennium.

It makes sense. Those who hold to a six-day creation (myself included as each day is separated by an evening and a morning), would place human history at almost 6,000 years old. So what does this have to do with generosity?

Our generous God is working out His perfect plan. And even as God made Adam and Eve in His image at creation, He made each of us in His image to play a part in reflecting His generosity to the world (for as long as it lasts).

And as long as He gives me life, I will continue to encourage Christian generosity (and do these daily posts) to inspire God’s people to play their part in His unfolding plan.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

Good King Wenceslas looked out,
on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
tho’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me,
if thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I shall see him dine,
when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together;
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
and the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker now,
and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how;
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, good my page;
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”

In his master’s steps he trod,
where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.

J. M. Neale and Thomas Helmore in “Good King Wenceslas” a 13th century carol from Finland, translated to English in 1853.

Today marks ancient carol #8 of 8 and perhaps my favorite Christmas carol aside from “O Holy Night”. Why do I love it so much. The entire focus of the lyrics emerges as a generosity quest.

On the day after Christmas, the feast of Stephen (remembering the first Christian martyr), this carol chronicles the pursuit of King Wenceslas and his page to bring a feast to a poor peasant.

I call it a quest because the wind and cold should have kept him from his goal, but nothing would sway him. And he uses the adventure as an illustration for all people after him with these words.

“Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.” It echoes the wisdom of Solomon today.

Those with wealth and rank possessing discover something only by giving. If they give freely, they find even more. But if they don’t, they will find only poverty.

Find yourself in the words of this hymn and play you part all who number among the “wealth and rank possessing.” Think of someone to bless this Christmas and don’t let anything get in your way of delivering it.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

“Adeste Fideles” translated as “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is attributed to John Francis Wade (1711–1786) though others give credit to John Reading (1645–1692), King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656), and even anonymous Cistercian monks.

This edition comes to us from John Francis Wade and represents #7 of 8 ancient hymns. Scholars trace the Latin version of the words back as early as the 13th century. It’s an old one and a good one for sure.

Let’s lean into a phrase we have likely sung hundreds of times and cherish the generosity of it. “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!” This represents the greatest gift of all time.

God became flesh and dwelled among us. And we saw His glory, full of grace and truth. So, what’s my prayer today for all of us as we approach Christmas and desire to grow in generosity?

I pray that we give the gifts of grace and truth to everyone we touch this Christmas and every day. To do this, we must immerse ourselves in the Word of God. Do that and the Spirit will take care of the rest.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

When you read the Latin Christus na­tus ho­die it means “today Christ is born” or “today the Savior has appeared” and when you read the Latin Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne it means “from the Virgin Mary.”

Christ was born on Christ­mas Day,
Wreathe the hol­ly, twine the bay;
Christus na­tus ho­die
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all adored for­ev­er.

Let the bright red ber­ries glow
Everywhere in good­ly show;
Christus na­tus ho­die:
The Babe, the Son,
The Ho­ly One of Ma­ry.

Christian men, re­joice and sing;
‘Tis the birth­day of a king,
Ex Ma­ria vir­gi­ne:
The God, the Lord,
By all ad­ored for­ev­er.

Night of sad­ness, morn of glad­ness
Evermore, ev­er, ev­er:
After ma­ny trou­bles sore,
Morn of glad­ness ev­er­more and ev­er­more.

Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly
Christ was born.

Sing out with bliss, His name is this;
Emmanuel:
As was fore­told in days of old
By Ga­bri­el.

Midnight scarce­ly passed and ov­er,
Drawing to this ho­ly morn,
Very ear­ly, very ear­ly,
Christ was born.

“Resonet in laudibus” (“Let the voice of praise resound”) translated from 14th Century German into English by J.M. Neale as “Christ was born on Christmas Day”. This marks #6 of the 8 oldest Christmas carols.

This ancient carol brings into view the tradition of decorating “in goodly show” with a wreath and red berries. The wreath signified the unending love and life found in Jesus Christ. And the red, of course, points to His blood which washes us from our sins.

As you approach the time of giving gifts like Jesus received gifts on that first Christmas, as people say “Merry Christmas” to you, perhaps reply “Happy Birthday” like Frosty the Snowman to get their attention (click here to see it).

As this ancient song proclaims, “Christmas is the birthday of a King.” And not just any king. “the God, the Lord, who is to be adored forever.” Don’t forget to acknowledge Christmas as the birthday of Jesus!

And you will never hear me say “Merry Christmas” as “merry” as the Greek word in texts like Luke 12:19-20 associates with selfish and licentious living. I say Happy or Blessed Christmas, using the word that appears in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:12).

Join me Happy Birthday Jesus! Happy Christmas to all.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News!
Jesus Christ was born to-day:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today.

In dulci jublio meaning “In sweet rejoicing” (A.D. 1328) but known in modern times as Good Christian Men, Rejoice, translated by J.M. Neale.

This Christmas my attention has gone repeatedly to the manger. The angel identifies the manger as a sign. Then this ancient hymn announces pointedly, “He is in the manger now!”

Remember that a manger is a feeding trough. This illustrates the heart of the big news!

All in Christ have reason to rejoice with heart and soul and voice. Generosity takes shape as spreading this news. The source of life for us is not the food we eat but the savior we meet at the manger.

Tell everyone. Christ is born today. It’s the most generous thing you can do.

The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. “Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:1-3

Between the ox and the grey donkey
sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.

Refrain:
A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim
fly around this great God of love.

Between the two arms of Mary
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the fruit of life.
Refrain

Between the roses and the lilies,
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.
Refrain

Amidst the gentle shepherds
Sleeps, sleeps Jesus who smiles.
Refrain

On this beautiful, so solemn day
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps Emmanuel.

Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris or Between the Ox and the Grey Donkey translated and arranged in modern times by Terry Hurrell. This hymn dates to somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries in France.

What struck me related to generosity today is the prophecy.

We label Isaiah as a major prophet for the magnitude of his writing and proclamations to the people of God about the things to come. Notice at the start of his writing he sets his announcement in history linking it to the reign of kings.

And then He says plainly that He reared his people but they did not obey Him. So he points what will happen between the ox and the donkey. He makes a reference to the nativity.

And today’s Hynm simply tells us what happened there. It was not a fancy setting, though the hosts of angels celebrate. That got me thinking even more.

Today, you and I get to minister as agents of Emmanuel. God’s Word tells us that there is more joy in heaven when we lead people to faith in Jesus or minister effectively as His servants.

So what’s my point? Jesus as the arrival of Jesus was not glamorous but good, between the ox and donkey, our generous service is most often not glamorous but good. And the angels celebrate what we do.

So as you approach the celebration of Christmas, keep living, giving, serving, and loving generously and often, not glamorously, and know that God sees and heaven celebrates.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7

1 Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
was humbly born in a stable rude,
and the friendly beasts around him stood;
Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

2 “I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried his mother uphill and down;
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town.
I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

3 “I,” said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him my hay to pillow his head.
I,” said the, cow all white and red.

4 “I,” said the sheep with curly horn,
“I gave him my wool for his blanket warm;
he wore my coat on Christmas morn.
I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

5 “I,” said the dove from the rafters high,
“I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry;
we cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.
I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

6 Thus every beast by some good spell,
in the stable dark was glad to tell
how they gave their gift to Emmanuel;
the gift they gave Emmanuel.

Robert David penned the modern English words to “The Friendly Beasts” dated to 12th century in France and sung to the tune of Orientis Partibus.

This song has the distinction of the third oldest Christmas carol. It literally brings the ancient nativity scenes to life. It illustrates how each “friendly beast” gave a gift to Christ from what they had. The animals teach us to give God what we have.

What do you we have? Is it time to take a fresh inventory? From there, what if you gave what you have to Jesus this Christmas? What would that look like? When we give what we have we never end up empty, but rather enriched.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

This is attested as the second oldest Christmas hymn available to us. It comes from the 4th century. It’s seven stanzas and rich in theology. All I can do in response is worship.

Of the Father’s Love Begotten

1. Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

2. At His word the worlds were framed; He commanded, it was done:
Heav’n and earth and depths of ocean, In their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining, Of the moon and burning sun—
[Evermore and evermore.]

3. He was found in human fashion, Death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children, Doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish in the dreadful gulf below—
[Evermore and evermore.]

4. O that birth forever blessèd, When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face—
[Evermore and evermore.]

5. This is He whom seers in old time, Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets. Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord—
[Evermore and evermore.]

6. O ye heights of Heav’n adore Him! Angel hosts His praises sing!
All dominions bow before Him, And exalt our God and King.
Let no tongue on Earth be silent, Every voice in concert ring—
[Evermore and evermore.]

7. Christ! to thee with God the Father, And O Holy Ghost, to thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, And unwearied praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory—
[Evermore and evermore.]

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-413) in Corde natus ex Parentis translated to English as Of the Father’s Love Begotten by J. M. Neale and H. W. Baker.

I shot the new header photo while walking my son’s dogs on Sunday morning. While I froze because I did not have a stocking cap or gloves, I did worship the Lord as the sun rose. And I snapped this photo. Christmas is about worship.

Worship with the Wise men. Worship the One who created all things. Worship the One about whom the angels sang. Worship the One about whom the prophets foretold. Worship the One born of a virgin. Worship the One who redeemed us from woe.

And bring Him gifts. Make your generosity this Christmas bigger and better than ever and make it reflect your worship and praise for all Christ represents to you and to all humanity. What will you bring to Jesus this Christmas in a posture of worship?

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

We trace the first observance to Christmas back to A.D. 354 and this as the earliest Christmas carol. As we approach Christmas, I will research how the church observed it in its earliest days.

Jesus Refulsit Omnium

Jesus refulsit omnium, Pius redemptor gentium
Totum genus fidelium, Laudes celebret dramatum

Quem stella natum fulgida, Monstrat micans per authera
Magosque duxit praevia, Ipsius ad cunabula

Illi cadentes parvulum, Pannis adorant obsitum
Verum fatentur ut Deum, Munus ferendo mysticum.

Here’s the English translation.

Jesus, Light of All the Nations

Jesus, devoted redeemer of all nations, has shone forth,
Let the whole family of the faithful celebrate the stories

The shining star, gleaming in the heavens, makes Him known at His
birth and, going before, has led the Magi to His cradle

Falling down, they adore the tiny baby hidden in rags,
as they bear witness to the true God by bringing a mystical gift.’

Hillary of Poitiers (c. 310-357) in Jesus Refulsit Omnium or Jesus, Light of All the Nations, English translation by Kevin Hawthorne, PhD.

Today we see three words attached to Jesus. He is our Redeemer. He is a Light to all the nations. And He takes shape as a mystical Gift. He would save us from our sins (Redeemer) and show us how to live (Light).

Part of our role in response is the “celebrate the stories.” Be sure to read the Christmas story to children or grandchildren, or friends and neighbors so the whole world knows.

And Jesus also takes shape as something everyone needs and no one deserves, namely, a mystical Gift, full of grace, mercy, and truth. Soak in the fact that Jesus is Redeemer, Light, and Gift today.

Consider how you might “bear witness” by sharing Him with someone else this Christmas as part of your generosity.