A Christmas Classic that Almost Wasn't

Love Letters from the Abeggs:   "…to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1:1) The Christmas Classic  That Almost Wasn't "When Schultz, a Sunday school teacher, said Linus should recite from the gospel of Luke, Mendelson and Melendez protested. "We looked at each other and said, 'well there goes the careers right down the drain…''" "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is part of the Abegg Family holiday tradition, along with other classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "White Christmas," and "Meet John Doe," as well as those in a different category such as "Elf" and "Die Hard 1 & 2." If you have a moment, though, I highly recommend you read the article "How A Charlie Brown Christmas Almost Wasn't." This classic Christmas tradition has withstood the test of 60 turbulent years since its airing on December 9, 1965, and includes a word-for-word proclamation of Christ's birth from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2 thanks to the tenacity of Peanut's creator Charles Shultz.  Enjoy the read, and I pray you're encouraged this Christmas to give thanks to God in all things, but in particular for the biggest gift you could ever receive… God Himself in the form of Christ.  There are many ways to access "It's Christmas Charlie Brown", but if you don't mind watching it in sections, it's available on YouTube at the link above.  Join our Team Prayer Team: Reply to this Email to let us know you're praying for us,  and let us know how we can be praying for you.  Financial Support Team: To join or learn more, visit: Abegg Missionary Support Page Donate via US Mail:  Send a check with an accompanying note stating:  "For the Abegg Family"  to 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217 Give Via Phone:  Dial (704) 357-3355 and talk to a very helpful person.

Advent...

Over the years, our family has cherished the tradition of Advent readings as a daily reminder and a meaningful preparation for celebrating Christ's birth. It's all too easy to be swept away by the busyness of the season: gatherings, shopping for gifts, events, and countless activities that, while part of our Christmas celebration, can often blur our focus on the miracle of God becoming man to redeem us and reconcile us to Himself. 

When Jeremy and Nico were little, these evening Advent devotionals were… let's just say "chaotic" would be a fitting word.  The focal point for them was who would get to light the advent candle—well, to be honest, it was really all about who got to wield the lighter. There's just something about fire that makes little boys (and big boys) lose their minds. Admittedly, on many of these evenings, I wondered if any of the devotional readings got through at all. 

Now, years later, I see that by God's grace, much of it did, and Claudia and I rejoice in how both have matured into young men who deeply value Advent and the profound meaning of Christ's incarnation. They each have their own unique way of expressing gratitude centered on the meaning and celebration of Christmas, even 3,000 miles from home. They've grown to have a personally deep value for God's Word, the practices of the Early Church, the writings of our Church Fathers, and how our Lord still calls us to use our unique gifts and "make disciples of all nations" in the world we live today.  Still, all those years ago, amidst the wiggles, corrections, poking, and even setting fire to the wreath instead of the candles, we had our concerns. 

These days Claudia and I find our advent readings a little quieter. Often, they take place in bed along with our evening prayers before turning in for the night. Yet even with this simpler rhythm, these moments continue to draw our hearts toward the ultimate reason we celebrate—God's gift of Himself in the form of a tiny baby. The Incarnation, the Son of God taking on flesh, is the center of it all.

This reading from a few days ago stood out to me:

"He was poor that He might make us rich. He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God. He took our flesh that He might give us His Spirit. He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven, that he might bring us to heaven… that the Ancient of Days should be born, -that he who thunders in the heavens, should cry in the cradle…that a virgin should conceive,  -that Christ should be made of a woman, and of that woman which himself made, that the mother should be younger than the child she bore, and the child in the womb bigger than the mother, -that the human nature should not be God, yet one with God: this was not only amazing but miraculous." -Thomas Watson as quoted in "O Come, O Come Emmanuel -A liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to epiphany" by John Gibson. 

Whether you have little children and devotionals dissolve into chaos, you have an empty nest, or you're awaiting God's provision in a spouse—whatever season your life is in right now, don't let the celebration of Christ's birth be diluted by the wrappings and trappings of the season. Take time, each day, and remind yourself of what He's done—and how that gives eternal meaning and purpose to whatever season of life you find yourself in right now.

I pray that the hope and promise of Christ's cradle and cross will be an encouragement for you to pause and praise the Ancient of Days as we celebrate His birth with one another this season. 

God bless!

Postscript:

Here are a few Advent devotional recommendations we've loved over the years: 

• Families with young children: 
• Christ in Christmas A Family Advent Celebration by Dobson, Swindoll, Montgomery Boice & Sproul (available in print on Amazon).
• Families with teens and older: 
• The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair Ferguson (available on Amazon in print, Kindle, and audio).
• The Dawning of Indestructible Joy Daily Readings for Advent (24 short devotionals) by John Piper (available on Amazon in print, Kindle, and audio).
• The Advent of Glory (24 medium-sized devotionals) by RC Sproul (available on Amazon in print, Kindle, and audio).
• Classic OT & NT Liturgy with broad readings, prayer & reflections for daily worship: 
• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany compiled by Jonathan Gibson (available on Amazon in print, Kindle, and audio).
• The Coming of the Son -A Trinitarian Advent Reader With Reflections Grom Those Who Have Gone Before edited by Jonathan Hunter. (Free PDF download w/ link).

In His Hands / En Sus manos;
Kevin S. Abegg

To join our support team or for year-end gifts please visit our Missionary Support Page. 

🌎 The Abeggs -Giving Thanks for God’s Care, Provision and Guidance!

Love Letters from the Abeggs:   "…to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1:1) Giving Thanks for God's Care,  Provision and Guidance! Claudia and I are deeply grateful for your faithful prayers and generous support. Your partnership is a source of encouragement as we continue serving in ministry and seek God's guidance for the next steps, striving to steward well the time and opportunities He has entrusted to us. Field Update:  Matt & Lisa Befus, and the Central America and Caribbean regional leader team have received the baton and sprinted out of the relay transition zone! I'm praising the Lord for what He is doing through His people in places of need.  Please keep the entire team in your prayers, especially our dear friends Wes and Cindy Williamson, whose community in Honduras was hit hard by Hurricane Sara last week. Flash floods submerged their car, home, and many of their belongings; For more details, see their Facebook post. One of the great joys of this season has been helping to revive and reform ASECOMM (Asociación Comunidad Latinoamericana de Ministerios Evangélicos), the "Latin American Association of Evangelical Ministries." Originally established in the 1970s by the Latin America Mission (LAM) and various partners, ASECOMM historically supported Biblical ministries promoting the gospel and missions to, from, and within Latin America. Since LAM's merger into UWM (now Mesa Global), there have been challenges in reviving this organization and its mission. However, we're seeing encouraging progress! Please pray for upcoming board meetings as we finalize the legal and governance structures, including onboarding new key Latin American leaders who will carry the vision forward. Home Update: Claudia's Health: We're praising the Lord for Claudia's progress—her thyroid levels are now in the "green" for the first time in over a year! While she still experiences unexplained pains, cycles of energy and exhaustion, and occasionally significant chest discomfort, we're thankful for the steps forward since her initial "thyroid storm" one year ago. Please continue praying for her full healing and restoration, and for our own wisdom in the process.  My Recovery: After delaying hernia surgery for years, a second hernia prompted me to finally act. I had them repaired just over a week ago. While the first two days were tough, I've been progressively improving. It will be a month or more before I can resume activities like running with Sherlock or lifting weights, but I'm grateful to be healing quickly. We are also deeply thankful for friends who've helped with some of the heavier household tasks during my recovery. Thank you for supporting both of us in prayer during this time! Dear friends Andrew & Matthew Gill help out in many ways as I heal, including giving Sherlock his bath! Church Update:  We're thrilled to share that Palm Vista Community Church, where we've worshiped for over 20 years, and where I've served as a bi-vocational pastor for the past three, finally has a permanent home! Although we've planted other churches and equipped numerous pastors across the U.S. and Latin America, our congregation has always been a"setup-and-teardown" church week after week. By God's grace, we recently purchased a vacant church property. As a church body, we're joyfully working to rehabilitate the space while reaching out to a new, generally underserved community in culturally rich South Florida. Please pray for our leadership, the congregation, and outreach efforts as we settle into this new season of ministry. For an overview of our new facility and how the Lord has provided in unimaginable ways visit PVCC -AntiochOffering.   Kevin & Claudia Next Steps Update:  In our previous newsletters (see: "Decisions, Changes, and Request for Your Prayerful Input"), we shared that we are discerning God's leading for our next season of ministry. I've been in conversation with several ministries that could be a possible fit, but so far, we don't yet have a specific direction, so we covet your prayers.  For you, our faithful and prayerful financial supporters, we are hoping to move into a role that won't require ongoing financial support-raising. Please pray for clarity and for the Lord to guide us into a place where we can continue serving effectively and steward all He has provided us over the years. In the meantime, your continued support allows us to remain focused on our current ministry commitments, so any year-end gifts, and or Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3rd) special gifts will greatly help us in this transition time! We look forward to connecting personally with each of you once our path becomes clear. If you'd like to chat or hear more about the opportunities we're exploring, please don't hesitate to schedule a time with us. I have rejoiced in meeting with those who have made use of our appointment calendar to simply catch up, and prayerfully discuss our hopes for the future. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE schedule a time and connect. It would truly be a blessing for us as we walk through this new season.  Recent Musings on Holiness… I've been meditating on the passages in Scripture where God commands, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."  (Lev.19; see also Ex 19 & 1 Pet.1).  Even with a remedial understanding of what the Bible calls "holy", this command —this, "you shall"—is as refreshing as a splash of ammonia in the eye. We're offered no compartmentalization of holiness.  There is no "I'll be holy on Sunday to cover for the rest of the week" or "I'll act holy outwardly while hiding what's in my head." Holiness isn't something we can toggle on and off. It is a command framed as "you shall be," a reality we are to embody, and that is (or should be) a terrifying concept before our holy, omnipotent God… (Continue reading HERE.) Thank you for partnering with us in your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. We are blessed to serve the Lord together with you and look forward to sharing how He walks us through these transitions. May the Lord provide you with the same guidance that we ourselves are seeking, as we boldly ask: "…Your Kingdom come, Your will be done…"! Join our Team Prayer Team: Reply to this Email to let us know you're praying for us,  and let us know how we can be praying for you.  Financial Support Team: To join or learn more, visit: Abegg Missionary Support Page Donate via US Mail:  Send a check with an accompanying note stating:  "For the Abegg Family"  to 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217 Give Via Phone:  Dial (704) 357-3355 and talk to a very helpful person. For past issues of our newsletters and other posts visit our Blog.  Copyright (C) 2024 United World Mission. All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you requested to be kept informed on the Abegg family and their ministry in Central America, the Caribbean and South Florida

BE HOLY...

I’ve been meditating on the passages in Scripture where God commands, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”  (Lev.19; see also Ex 19 & 1 Pet.1).  Even with a remedial understanding of what the Bible calls “holy”, this command —this, “you shall”—is as refreshing as a splash of ammonia in the eye. We’re offered no compartmentalization of holiness.  There is no “I’ll be holy on Sunday to cover for the rest of the week” or “I’ll act holy outwardly while hiding what’s in my head.” Holiness isn’t something we can toggle on and off. It is a command framed as “you shall be,” a reality we are to embody, and that is (or should be) a terrifying concept before our holy, omnipotent God.   

 

A Sunday school response to the ammonia-burning eyes might be a natural retreat to: “Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers our inability to meet God’s standard.” While this is gloriously true, the apostle Peter—writing this side of the cross—doesn’t end the discussion there, but exhorts us:

 

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:14-19).

 

So where does that leave me… leave us… as we grapple with deceitful hearts and indwelling sin? My hope and comfort this morning came from the prophet Isaiah, and his shocking confrontation of God’s holiness.  He found himself in the very throneroom of God, surrounded by seraphim proclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;” (Isaiah 6:3). The prophet is understandably, utterly undone, decrying: “‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’” (v.5).  

 

On my own, holiness is a hopeless endeavor, both before and after Calvary. However, Isaiah’s vision doesn’t end in despair. He does not crumble to dust before God’s holiness. Instead, we read: “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” (v.6-8).

 

Beyond the Sunday school answer of “Jesus on the cross takes care of my sins” lies a richer truth: God’s requirement for holiness is met by His provision and His empowerment at every moment. Through Christ, we are, and continue to be sanctified—made holy—and empowered to live holy lives that attest to God’s eternal goodness, even when we must repent of sin. The gospel moves us from “Woe is me” to “Here I am! Send me.” By His Spirit, we are no longer “conformed to the passions of [our] former ignorance,” but instead, we live in the holiness He calls us to, as Peter reminds us: 

“...do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:14-19).