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Dickens’ fictional character Ebenezer Scrooge famously said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
It’s hard to say whether Jesus expected his followers to celebrate His birth in the way we do these thousands of years later. However, there are timeless themes in the story of Jesus’ birth that, if we allow them to inform our lives, will be a blessing to us and those around us.
Jesus’s birth and childhood in humble and poor circumstances, and his constant associations with those less fortunate, demonstrate the importance God places on people, above material wealth and status. We should follow Jesus’ footsteps and reach out to anyone regardless of where they come from or where they have gotten themselves.
The supernatural phenomena associated with Jesus’ birth, including manifestations of angels and His birth to a young virgin, should inspire us to seek divine intervention in the problems we face. We must believe in miracles. God is able to place his divine spark inside a person and transform them. Pray constantly for God to show himself. He is able.
We live in a dark world, and yet it is a world that God created as a beautiful home for mankind. Jesus’ birth is a story of light in the darkness. The light of Jesus in us can burst as a bright star upon the dark spaces where we sometimes live and serve. Through Christ, the beauty of creation as God first intended it can be glimpsed again, if imperfectly, as His followers bring the good news of redemption and live transformed lives.
Scrooge may have had in mind such Christmas graces as hospitality, generosity, and friendliness, and the birth of Christ is about these things, but Christmas is so much more. The birth of Christ represented an epochal change, the inauguration of God’s kingdom on earth.
Christmas is for all the year. Christmas is for life.
—Mike Fisher, Manager of Operations
Today, we at Lighthouse Publishing experienced a deep loss. This morning, James Weaver passed from this life into the presence of the Lord. Jimmy filled an invaluable role here as our primary office staff member for nearly seven years.
After retiring from his career as a laboratory technician, Jimmy gave his time and talent to our ministry. He went above and beyond simply processing mail and maintaining our database, to establishing personal connections and sharing notes of encouragement with untold numbers of prison inmates.
At the end of 2022, Jimmy retired a second time, and we have missed his presence often. And now as the Lord has called him away, we are left with many great memories of his infectious laugh, intense care for others, and thousands of hours of service on behalf of people he never met.
There was once a kindly gentleman,
Jimmy Weaver was his name;
Often when I crossed Sproul Mountain
I heard much about his fame.
Jimmy was a much loved pastor
In a little country church,
Personal friend and trusted mentor
To the folks who worshipped there.
Jimmy cared for those in prison—
Lighthouse was his usual spot.
He helped propagate the vision:
Reaching a less fortunate lot.
Jimmy was a kindred spirit,
Though I didn’t know him long.
He enjoyed a table garnished
With nutrition quite diverse.
Time was short to know my namesake;
Only twice we got to talk.
But I have those treasured memories,
Now life’s path alone I walk.
Friends, there is a kindly Being
Who you really need to know,
Time is short and life is fleeting,
Talk to Him while here below.
Jesus Christ, your Friend and Savior,
Now invites you, “Come and dine;”
Jimmy’s waiting at the table—
Till we make our heavenly climb.
—James Hoover, Loaves & Fishes magazine staff
Issue 54: Evangelism
Since our October newsletter was published, issue 53 was shipped. We are currently finishing up issue 54, and hope to have it ready for editing and design soon. Our current bank account balance is around $13,000. We project a printing cost of $22,000 for this issue, and a postage cost of around $9,000. With design and other expenses, the total cost of this issue is expected to be around $35,000, so our goal is to raise an additional $22,000 in funding by press time.
