Martin the Cobbler

In perhaps his best book, The Shoemaker's Gift, Leo Tolstoy tells of an elderly shoemaker Martin, believing that God has forsaken him after the loss of his family and that he has little to live for. Martin finds new inspiration when a clergyman leaves behind a Bible. His explorations of Bible stories shine a new light in the darkest corners of his heart.

In the book he asks "But how is one to live for God?" The old man answered: "How one may live for God has been shown us by Christ. Can you read? Then buy the Gospels, and read them: there you will see how God would have you live. You have it all there." These words sank deep into Martin's heart, and that same day he went and bought himself a Testament in large print, and began to read.
He came to  Matthew 7:24-27.  He tried his own life by the standard of those words, asking himself:
"Is my house built on the rock, or on sand?

He read Luke 7:44 and thought: "He gave no water for his feet, gave no kiss, his head with oil he did not anoint?" And Martin took off his spectacles once more, laid them on his book, and pondered.
"He must have been like me, that Pharisee. He too thought only of himself ? how to get a cup of tea, how to keep warm and comfortable; never a thought of his guest. He took care of himself, but for his guest he cared nothing at all. Yet who was the guest? The Lord himself! If he came to me, should I behave like that?"

One night Martin then hears the voice of the Lord say to him that he will come and be his guest tomorrow. Martin is expectant to see the Lord throughout the next day but at the end of the day he has not come. But the people that Martin interacts with throughout his day were those that God had sent his way. When I was hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in." "In so much as ye did it to the least of my brethren  you did it to me."

And Martin understood that his dream had come true; and that the Savior had really come to him that day, and he had welcomed him. He who had repaired the soles of shoes, had his own soul repaired that day.
What great lessons we can learn from this story... and we all have a story to tell each day in the situations that we are given.

You can listen to the audio dramatization of this story presented by the Focus on the Family Radio Theater:

http://media.focusonthefamily.com/fotf/mp3/fof_daily_broadcast/ffd_2012/4_oct_nov_dec/ffd_20121224.mp3

God Became Man

Here is an interesting story from Jon Courson:

Imagine that God takes you on a guided tour of the cosmos, and He says, "Look at that planet over there."
And you say, "Hey, that's... " and you zoom in closer. "Wow, a planet that's totally inhabited by dogs.
"No, no. Look closer." And so you look closer. You zoom in a little tighter and you see that that planet, is inhabited by dogs. The dogs all have their fangs bared. Saliva is running down their mouth. They're bloody, and devouring, and fighting constantly, crazily, wild eyes flaming from within them you see.
"Oh Lord, that's terrible. What's the deal?"
"The whole planet", He says to you, "has been infected with rabies."
"Oh Father, wow, that's sad. Wipe them out."
"Well", He says, "you see, I really love those dogs."
"You do?"
"I really do."
"Well, okay. Help them out."
"I want to. I've got medicine for them that will totally and completely heal them."
"Well, give it to them Father!"
"Therein lies the problem", He says to you. "You see, I'm so big and awesome, and holy, and powerful, that they don't even acknowledge me. The only way that I can really speak to them and make this medicine available for them is if I send somebody to live among them and become just like them. That's why I brought you here.
"Let me get this straight," you say. "Those dogs that are sick and bloodied and fighting and devouring each other, you care about? And You have a medicine to help them?"
"Uh- huh."
"And You can't really connect with them because You're so awesome and big?"
"Right."
"And somebody's got to become like them to relate to them and share with them?"
"Uh-huh."
"And that's why You brought me here?"
"Yeah. I want you to become a dog."
"Wow."
"And not just any kind of dog. We're talking Chihuahua."
"You mean, You want me to become a Chihuahua?"
"That's right. Humble and meek, and the lowly of mind. And there's something else. When you talk to them, they're not going to listen to you. In fact, most of them are going to be viscously antagonistic toward you. In fact, they're going to sink their fangs into you and rip you apart and wipe you out."
"I'm going to become a Chihuahua, and tell these dogs that You have medicine for them, that You care about them, but they're going to turn on me. They're going to sink their fangs into me, they're going to shred me... "
"Yes."
"They're going to kill me."
"Yes."
"But, but,... but after that, I will resurrect you from the dead."
"Whew."
"But it's not that simple. You see, you will then be a resurrected, glorified Chihuahua - - forever. You will be resurrected and glorified, but you will remain a dog throughout eternity."

That's what happened to our Lord, our leader, our love, our hero, our king, our friend. Except that - the step Jesus Christ took down, to become like us; to dwell with us and die for us and remain like us, (for He still is totally human. A hundred percent God, yes, but a hundred percent man. He's locked into His humanity). The step that He took down to become like you and me, is a step far, far more radical than if you became a Chihuahua. I can't help then, but say "Lord, what can I do for You? In light of what You did for me, what can I do for You?" That's why Paul said, "It's the love of Christ that compels us,  because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died."

I'm sure it will take an eternity to grasp just how much he loves us and what it cost Him to purchase us.

Audrey Assad- Winter Snow

The Kinsman Redeemer

The book of Ruth is a classic love story of loyalty and devotion, yet it also contains some surprising insights that go far beyond the historical narrative itself.

One of the principal characters is Naomi, a Bethlehemite, who migrates with her husband and two sons to distant Moab because of a famine. The two sons take Moabite women for wives. During the ten years that follow, Naomi's husband and both her two sons pass away, leaving her destitute.

Upon hearing that things have turned for the better in her native Bethlehem, Naomi decides to return home. She encourages the two young girls to make new lives for themselves among their own people.

However, Ruth refuses, insisting upon remaining with Naomi, declaring one of the most famous commitments in the Scriptures:

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Ruth 1:16, 17

Upon returning to Bethlehem, Ruth encounters the hero of the tale, the land owner, Boaz. To follow the plot, one must understand the Law of Redemption. In ancient Israel, land wasn't sold as we are used to. Since God was the real landowner, Israel was simply a tenant under conditions of obedience. When land was "sold," the buyer received only the use of the land, not clear title. There were conditions under which a kinsman of the seller could "redeem" the land back to the original family.

The scroll mentioned in Revelation Chapter 5 was written "within and on the backside," which identifies it as a deed subject to redemption. A Kinsman of Adam, in His role as a Kinsman-redeemer, Jesus will take final possession of what He already purchased with His blood as the sacrificial Lamb. He not only purchased the land; he also purchased a Bride. The Kinsman Redeemer needed to be qualified to fulfill the deed and be willing to fulfill it. Christ was qualified because he came to earth as a man and lived a sinless life. Also he was willing to take on our sin and shame, as he subjecting his will to His Father.

In the Book of Ruth, Naomi is viewed by scholars as a type of Israel, exiled from her land; Boaz is her kinsman, who performs the redemption of the land; and Ruth (a Gentile) is also purchased for a wife. It is interesting that Ruth is introduced to Boaz through an unnamed servant (functioning as the Holy Spirit). The Church, as the Gentile "Bride of Christ," is introduced to the ultimate Kinsman-redeemer by the Holy Spirit also. Boaz is not only the "lord of the harvest," he saves the day by performing the role of a  "Kinsman- Redeemer." In Hebrew tradition, a Kinsman Redeemer was a qualified relative, someone who could step into a situation, and assist with restoring property, financial security, and future inheritance.

Boaz and Ruth marry and have a child, ensuring the continuation of the Davidic line. God works through the actions of a widow, a foreigner, and a wealthy farmer to bring about the birth of the grandfather of King David, which ultimately leads to the birth of Jesus.

It is interesting that the field of Boaz is near where the shepherds received the annoucement of Christ's birth. Caves where shepherds “kept watch over their flock” still abound in the area east of Bethlehem. The angel’s good news was not given to the noble or pious, but to workers of low reputation. Jewish literature ranked “shepherds” among the most despised occupations of the time — but Christ was to identify himself with this occupation when he called himself “the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).

How can we be a Kinsman Redeemer to those in need around us?

1. Notice others. Take a look around you. Who do you see lagging behind?  Someone who has fallen on hard times?

2. Clothe with Comfort & Kindness. Sometimes a big hug or a listening ear is all that one needs. Clothing others with kindness means that we are investing in their desires and care about them.

3. Give. Go out of your way to give. When Boaz noticed Ruth, first he showed compassion to her by listening to her needs. He made sure she was protected by instructing his workers to look after her by giving extra food. Boaz wanted to make sure that no further harm would come to her.  


With the passing of jazz legend Dave Brubeck, here is a musical selection from his last album with his quartet, made 7 years ago at age 84. The other video following is an interview with Dave on World War 2 reflections when he served his country.