If it’s ever been there before, I don’t know how I missed it, but it sure shocked–and delighted–me when I saw it late Christmas Eve. There it was, at the apex of a promenade dotted with Christmas displays, including 52 trees from all the states and two US territories. I had seen the 52 trees on my last visit to the National Christmas Tree earlier this month. I had also seen the cute model train dioramas, but I had not seen this:

Nativity Scene at National Christmas Tree on Ellipse, Washington Mall

No kidding! It is a nearly life-sized manger scene, right there on public land. Yes, a public park, no less–the Ellipse on the Washington Mall, only  a stone’s throw from the South Grounds of the White House, near where the President’s helicopter, Marine One, lands. And it’s one of the most beautiful creches I’ve ever seen, complete with the Holy Family, the Wise Men and even an angel–and quite a majestic one at that.

Call it a Christmas miracle, but I am truly AMAZED the ACLU, or People United for the Separation of Church and State, or surely the Freedom from Religion Foundation, hasn’t challenged this clear portrayal of the true reason for the season. But, shh . . . don’t say much or say it too loud, or somebody will go after it!

For now, it seems perfectly secure, and it was plenty photographed tonight, especially by foreign tourists. If you see Nativity Scenes as I do, as one-time conveyors of the Gospel story to a mostly illiterate world, then this Nativity is certainly where it belongs for a biblically illiterate culture.

Thank God for little miracles–or big ones, as I would classify it, anyway. It sure made for my more merry CHRISTmas! Thought you’d enjoy it, too. Pray for its preservation.

Rob +

What? you’re asking.

Yes, Sunday night, December 20, during the annual “Christmas in Washington” concert at the National Building Museum, President Obama and the First Lady took to the stage to join entertainers in singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Before I go further, let’s recall the first verse of this powerful and all-time classic carol by the musical “prophet” Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788):

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king; Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’ angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Now, I ask you, how can someone sing these great words and not be affected in their soul? This is the plain Gospel, “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”. (Romans 1:16 b) I call these carols, “Musical Gospel Tracts.”

Of course, the key is that last part, “to every one that believeth.” That’s the difference between “affect” and “effect,” but whether one “believes” or not, you must feel the “affect” of such a magnificent message.

Time will tell whether the President bears the “effect,” but the optimist in me says he definitely felt the “affect.”

This is why I love the CHRISTmas season. No one—not even an isolated, insulated, hyper-protected, inordinately shielded President of the United States, can escape hearing and being touched by the echo of that glorious angelic pronouncement heralded from the Heavens 2000 years ago,

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

It’s enough to make even a president cry.

Rob +

As I write the President has just concluded his lecture in Oslo following acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. He is a master wordsmith and gives a bedazzling delivery. The protracted standing ovation says it all when it comes to Mr. Obama’s popularity in Europe, and in Scandanavia in particular. I’ll have some things to say about the content of the speech and an appeal to make to the new Nobel laureate, but I’m waiting to examine a full and final text. Stand by for another post on that.

Back home there are two things of note. In the title of this post I refer to them as sins of commission and omission. The committing was done by the US Senate, that, in the name of extending healthcare to millions of Americans, a nobel intention, it also withdrew any hope of helping millions of the most fragile and vulnerable members of the human family and the American population–those yet-to-be-born. No one argues anymore that the target of abortion is a “blob of tissue” or something not yet human. Ultrasound, in utero surgery, advances in genetic science, have all confirmed what most have always known innately, that the being in the womb is exactly that, a human being. Worse, the new revenue flow of federal tax dollars will be an incentive for abortionists to coerce women into having abortions to prop up their bottom line. After all, abortion is a for-profit business. No one is giving away abortions as an act of charity.

On the ommission side is Arizona Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick’s inexplicable mis-quote of the Pledge of Allegiance during this week’s Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. In her opening remarks she said, in the context of America’s diversity, that this is what makes us, “one nation”–pause–”indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Leaving out “under God” seemed deliberate and was most certainly conspicuous. In searching for an explanation, we discovered the Congresswoman’s office has purged the line from the published text. As for Rep. Kirkpatrick’s spokesperson, she had nothing to say about it. I found it very peculiar and, in some ways, ominous. We’re following up and I’ll write more when we have it.

For now, let’s pray and act, there’s no time to lose. BTW: If you need encouragement in this gloomy hour, I recommend one of my favorites, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the young and brilliant German theologian who voluntarily returned to his homeland under Hitler to oppose that evil regime, ultimately giving his life for the cause of righteousness. There’s a film you can rent, “Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace,” a documentary by Martin Doblmeier, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Pacifest, Nazi Resister,” a radio drama by Focus on the Family, “Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom,” and, of course, his many books. Among them I recommend Life Together and Psalms: Prayer Book of the Bible. The hopeful side of the Bonhoeffer story is Germany, once one of the grandest perpetrators of mass murder in all of human history, went on to become one of the rare nations to declare human life begins at conception. Hope springs eternal when its grounded in God.

More later . . .

We affectionately call our Faith and Action ministry center the “O. House.” (Short for “the Honorable William J. Ostrowski House, named for retired New York State Supreme Court judge Bill Ostrowski, a great friend to our organization.) We also consider the O. House one of our greatest assets on Capitol Hill not only because of it’s excellent facilities, but simply because of its location. We are a few paces from the US Supreme Court, just a block from the US Capitol and only ten minutes from the White House. That puts us right in the center of the action. It allows us to project the message of the Gospel and biblical Truth literally into the  corridors of power. It takes us but a few minutes to be inside or in front of any of the seats of power in Washington, and that’s an enormous advantage, particularly over our opponents!

Well, all this factors into our ministry strategy, especially at Christmas time. As you see in the short video clip at the bottom of this post, Christmas has fully arrived at the O. House! Each year we set up the only outdoor Nativity Scene fully visible to the Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and even the President when he comes to the neighborhood for a visit. (As happened three times with President Bush, and already twice with President Obama.) This manger scene at Bethlehem was custom created for us in a folk art style by local artist Amy Hinman. It’s installed each year by long-time Faith and Action major supporter and always faithful volunteer Melissa Newsome and her able assistant Dean Saunders. I’ll soon post a complete video report on the set-up of the Nativity Scene and the rest of Melissa’s fabulous Christmas decorations at the O. House. Watch for it on the front page of our website, www.faithandaction.org.

While it’s tempting to think of the Nativity Scene as only art or a simple decoration, it’s not. It’s a very powerful tool for communicating the most important message of all time, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) The wood figures in the display are arresting in their simplicity and many people stop to just gaze at them. As I watch them from my office window, I can almost see the effect on the hearts and minds of passers by. Even unchurched secularists have enough of a knowledge of the Christmas story to reflect on it’s meaning. Long ago, artistic manger scenes were used to communicate the glorious message of the Savior to an illiterate population. While many are tempted to think of politicians as a type of illiterate, they aren’t. It’s just that in the frenzied rancor of Capitol Hill, they rarely take time to contemplate what really matters. The simple Christmas diorama in front of the O. House helps to correct that.

Merry Christmas season to all from Faith & Action!

Your missionary to Capitol Hill,

Rob +