Unwrapping Christmas

"A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel, which means "God is with us." Matthew 1:23.

When our grandkids receive Christmas presents, they get right on with things. While the wrapping sets the mood, it's what's on the inside that matters to them. They're delighted with new toys, clothes, and even trinkets. 

During a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service our speaker focused on Immanual, God is with us. He tied the prophecies of 700 years before the birth of Christ to their fulfillment we were celebrating. After the service our Muslim guest, a university student asked "So, if you say that Immanuel means 'God with us' that means Jesus is God?" Wow. She got it. Looking through the lens of this perceptive student, I was reminded of natural opportunities at Christmastime of sharing the Good News more than any other time of the year. While the ambience is important, the heart of the Christmas message is Jesus.

We took our new friends to 'Festival of Lights', a drive around loop that's become popular in some cities. When we got back to our house, we talked about Christmas lights decorating many houses and trees. Why do you think lights are so important? We pointed out that Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World." John 8:12. You see, here was a natural opportunity to share about spiritual darkness and Jesus bringing light and life to situations.

Any other ways we can unwrap Christmas for our Muslim friends? It's probably best to do so in our home or at least in a quiet place. They will have ideas from observations about the meaning of Christmas. It can be delightful to talk about it. Invariably we have to put Santa in perspective. We've had to show some of our friends that Santa is not in the biblical account of the birth of Christ. And no, Jesus didn't wear a Santa outfit! For more ideas, click on the links highlighted in the rest of this post.

Joy posted "Redeeming the Christmas Stocking" on her blog in which she illustrates how to use a tradition to unwrap the meaning of Christmas. We know there are other legends like the Candy Cane or traditions that can be used this way. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to explain the rich message of a Christmas carol heard in the mall or media.

We've asked a lead question like "Would you like to hear the Christmas story from the Bible?" as a segue to a spiritual conversation. Most of our friends have actually never read or heard the authentic message from the Injil(NT) related to Christmas. We've found it especially effective to have them read it in their heart language. Giving the Jesus dvd or a link for people's smartphones or tablets can be a tool to clarify the reason for the season. I've often watched the section about the birth of Christ from the Jesus dvd with the boys from All Nations Sports Club and then discussed it. Enjoy unwrapping the message of Christmas with your friends!

Dear God, help me to unwrap the Christmas message so that my Muslim friends will understand the truth about Jesus. Amen.

This 'Bethlehem' clip gives the story a modern spin. Enjoy!

Christian Funerals

"...we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8.

After I finished reading this verse during the graveside/committal service for my aunt, a trumpeter played TAPS as a farewell. I think it is an honorable way of saying good-bye to a loved one.

Recently people who came to show respect and sympathy to the family whose son/brother was tragically drowned while on vacation in Mexico received a much different message. The message basically was that his soul was on a journey and one didn't know when he would arrive at the final destination. In the Bahai faith there is no message of hope of ever meeting again. How tragic...

The subject of death and dying is eery for most people. Especially for Muslims. They have much reason to grieve. Not only do they lose a loved one physically but the Qur'an gives no assurance of the soul's destination. Their belief is that everyone will spend at least some time in hell(Qur'an 19:71). Only Muslim martyrs can expect to enter paradise directly. Similar to Catholicism, Muslims are told that they can reduce the time suffering in hell if they do good deeds in their lifetime and pray for Muslim souls after their departure. As one of our Muslim friends said, "Don't think we are doing all these things for this life...on the contrary, its for the next life." On Thursday nights, especially Shias have a vigil at the grave of loved ones and pray for the time in hell to be reduced. Muslims do other good deeds like serving a big meal for the neighborhood to get God's favor. Also, there is a hadith(2nd to the Qur'an) that says if a person suffered a lot in their lifetime it reduces punishment. Still, the uncertainty leaves most Muslims insecure and afraid of death.

I was at the bedside of a dying Muslim man, an acquaintance. The room was packed with mourners. Rahmat recognized me but was not lucid enough to understand much of what was being said. I shared the Gospel message with him one more time--probably more for the ones gathered in the room. Then I prayed for him. It may have been too late for him. He had just returned from the Haj and likely was banking on merit from completing this requirement. At any rate, I was not allowed to come to the grave. Only Muslims are allowed that close.

We just said our earthly good-bye to my brother. On his last day on earth he weakly uttered 'Amen' after one of the family members prayed for him--his last word. He gave assent to the hope declared and for his heavenly Father's will to be done. Later in the day my wife prayed as he closed his eyes that he'd see the lights of heaven and hear the music of heaven. And now he is with Jesus--totally healed from his cancer.

Hallelujah! We do have much reason to be thankful for, don't we? What a privilege to proclaim this Good News--if we place our trust in Jesus, he'll safely bring us home to heaven at the end of our life.


Dear Lord, thank-you for the hope we have in Jesus...for the sure salvation. Help my Muslim friends to be drawn to Jesus' simple and clear invitation. Amen.

Good Came Out of Tragedy

“…I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:17.

Our friend and colleague Nadeem was born in Beirut, Lebanon to a loving Christian family. He gave permission to share his story. When Nadeem was 11 years old, he accompanied his mother to a wedding celebration where there was a lot of hoopla including firing a shotgun into the air! When everything was over his mother urged him to go home with her but he insisted on staying on with friends. A young man sitting across from Nadeem in the open courtyard picked up the idle double barrelled shotgun assuming it wasn't loaded. Immediately when he pulled the trigger an unspent bullet fired and sprayed the crowd across from him and hit Nadeem in both eyes. In spite of doctors’ best efforts, they couldn't save his eyesight.

In an instant, Nadeem's world went dark. How could he go on living? With time he learned to read and write Braille. He starting reading the Bible and understood God’s wonderful plan for him...that God wasn’t finished with him yet.  Nadeem made a decision to follow Christ. That was the start of a new life for him.

Nadeem worked hard in his studies and beat the odds against him—finished high school, graduated from Bible College and then with a Master’s degree in World History. God gave him a brilliant mind to retain things that most of us forget shortly after hearing or reading it. He also has a heightened ability to identify people by their voices and a general sense of what is going on around him.

Loss and tragedy did not keep Nadeem back from ministry. Soon he started sharing his story and proclaiming the Gospel message that changed his life. He volunteered to pastor a church in the Middle East and served there for more than a decade. Back in Canada, along with his supportive wife who has the gift of hospitality, Nadeem continues in a unique ministry in person or on the phone to those who are searching for meaning in life.

Some years back we were both relating to a group of Kurdish Muslims. A young couple asked Nadeem to marry them and also to give a ‘good word'. He has shared a 'good word' many places including his testimony to the boys of All Nations Sports Club. The boys, mostly from the Middle East were awestruck by the transformation in his life. He has a fatherly way of ministering.

Not long ago a Palestinian Muslim woman had several dreams about the Cross. Her Christian friend found Nadeem by 'Googling' Arabic Church, Winnipeg and asked him for an Arabic Bible! A variety of believers from Christian background and Muslim background attend Nadeem's weekly Arabic fellowship. They are encouraged by the humble testimony of a seasoned believer.

May this be an encouragement. God has shaped each of us for a reason. He can even bring good out of tragedy. Hallelujah!

Dear Jesus, Thank-you for our Brother Nadeem and his wife. They are a blessing to many people—even to Muslims. To God be the glory. Amen.