Our Christmas Poem & The Four Signs of Christmas

Merry Christmas to one and all.

This poem I am attempting to scrawl,

To let you know you’re thought of

With prayers and lots of our love.

We have joined the ranks of those who

Are transitioning to new jobs ‐ who knew?

After 31 years leading and teaching our flock

God would lead us out – still on the solid Rock.

Dale’s 37 years of pastoring folks with love

Led to life experience that counts from above

To continue to minister in Jesus’ grace

On a smaller scale but to a broader base.

Encouraging younger pastors, leading men,

Teaching learners, what a joy that’s been.

Discipling one on one or with a few

Teaching transferrable concepts with the view

To train them to teach others God’s Good News ‐

Giving Truth to our world instead of Good Views.

Dale’s preached at several churches this fall

And taught the Book of Acts in a quite small hall.

God has given us this new mission

In the midst of our transition.

Raising support, discipling, writing and teaching

We are loving the people whom we are reaching.

With our old and new friends along the way

Who have the same heart and vision who pray

We find Biblical answers to live in this world

That’s changing fast as headlong it’s hurled

Into secular humanism at its best.

Helping equip those who are put to the test

To know what the Bible says about issues today ‐

Ready with an answer to show others the way.

Using our new website to help people grow,

Giving practical answers as seeds we sow.

daleebel.org is the web address that we

Are developing as a resource – look and see!

Dale has had some great adventures to relate

Practicing survival skills in a forest of late,

And target shooting with the family men

And fishing on the Deschutes with friends.

Now on to our family that’s grown quite a bit.

Our 14‐seat table ‐ now 18 will not fit!

Jude’s two 1/2, and his sister is Isla Rose.

She is so beautiful from her head to her toes.

Isla Rose arrived TODAY, the 14th of December!

Our tenth grandchild, a day to remember.

Thanking God for His miracle and JOY we exude!

In January we’ll go to meet Isla & play with Jude.

Vanessa’s a pastor’s wife, mom and our friend.

She thanks God for a girl and is ready to spend

Her energy caring for her expanding fam,

Being a wife & mom makes her happy as a clam.

Jude’s progressing in skills and is such a joy,

We thank you for praying for this precious boy.

caringbridge/visit/judeebel is the website

For checking out updates that S & V write.

Community Life Pastor is Seth’s job title.

He loves the people and his ministry is vital.

The Shoreline Church is a great place

To love the people and extend God’s grace.

Millions of people “Google” every day:

“How can I know God?” “Help me to pray.”

Seth wrote online training that will teach ‐

3 to 4 million this next year he’ll reach.

After accepting Jesus and seeking help to grow

From all over the world they want to know

Through Global Media Outreach they’ll read

The info Seth’s written so their faith can succeed.

Seth’s many online videos help people to learn

To Pray, Read the Bible and after God yearn.

Check out followingthepath.com so you can see

A way believers can grow and have Community.

Petra LaVelle Ebel turned one year old

On November 12th – she’s a sight to behold.

Huge brown eyes and the biggest smile

She makes trips to Seattle very worthwhile.

Along with her brother and sister, too,

Josiah & Evangeline have won our hearts true.

Jo’s fun to watch in soccer, Evie in gym & dance.

They visit Portland at every chance.

Josiah is five and Evangeline is three,

Corrie’s a jewel ‐ she sends videos for us to see.

Their kids having fun, pretending and playing

And loving their life goes without saying.

Brandon continues to work hard each day.

In the evenings with his kids he’ll play.

President of BEC Recordings and Tooth and Nail,

Producing lots of music, he’s blazed a trail.

Making a difference in this world by providing

A medium for youth and others to begin siding

With Jesus and His purposes in their lives,

For quality music and good lyrics, he strives.

Corrie loves cooking and is quite the gourmet,

She shuttles her kids to and fro every day.

She & the kids do projects galore,

Baking cookies, doing art and so much more.

Mars Hill is their church and they love to attend

To hear the Word taught, Truth not to bend.

Pastor Mark Driscoll wrote Vintage Jesus, a book.

Brandon wrote on the back cover, go look.

Now for the family who lives across the street,

Seven people dwell there whom daily we greet.

Jeff & Heather their five kids are raising,

Leading their family in God’s Name praising.

Jeff’s own clinic is very close by

And that way he can come home on the fly

to play with the kids and have some lunch

Then back to his patients he helps a bunch.

Mountain biking and skiing are the ones

He does for a break and then takes his sons

Snow‐boarding, wake‐boarding and boating too

Never a dull moment when you’re in Jeff’s shoes.

Heather keeps the home fires burning,

Her homemaker degree she is certainly earning.

Cleaning, washing and cooking are always done

And she even finds time to have a little fun.

The kids all pitch in and get in “work mode”

To help around the house and to pull their load.

Here is a synopsis of what they all do

Then this poem will be almost through.

J.J. wrestles, plays soccer and on a recent day

Was King Arthur of the Round Table in a play.

Missoula Children’s Theater came to town,

J.J. had an opportunity to wear a crown.

J.J. is 14, in Middle School, he is in eighth.

He is articulate and able to reason his faith.

Brock is now 10 and is growing quite tall.

He plays baseball, football and loves basketball.

Math and sports statistics fill Brock’s brain.

Each player’s fame he can easily explain.

Max is 8 and loves to paint and draw

Some of the nicest pictures you ever saw.

This fall a great pumpkin picture he drew,

Flag football and wrestling he also likes to do.

Rowen is 6 and is very organized,

A lot like his Papa Dale so we’re not surprised.

Rowen’s up and ready with his backpack

And has already put in his yummy snack.

Kindergarten each day he can’t wait to attend

Where he learns, has fun and can pretend.

Selah is 3 and is a feminine little girl,

But can still give her folks quite a little swirl

She wrestles often with her brothers four

And in her pink tutu is on the dance floor.

Selah refused to let us photograph her

So in our family photo her head is a blur!

Had a fun Christmas Tea at the Heathman Hotel

With Heather, Selah, Kerri & Ava I love so well.

To Oklahoma in May I took Anne, my Mother

With sister Sandy, Pam and Jon, my brother

To see our homes, cousins and friends of old

Many loving memories in our hearts we’ll hold.

Mother fell and broke her leg last week.

It was discouraging and looked quite bleak.

Surgeries followed to make her leg straight.

Putting in lots of pins and also a plate.

For a 3‐month recuperation she needs prayer.

Bible study friends and her church Circle there

Are giving support along with Jon and Pam.

Would you join us in prayer for Mother Anne?

Charles & Sandy, Jon & Pam have quite new

Granddaughters also‐ here are their names, too.

Cute Agatha joined Jonathan, Katie & Grace

And Erin & Jeremy’s Delilah is fair of face.

Dale joined our niece, Jessica Ebel in matrimony

To Michael Schaper in a beautiful ceremony.

The 5th Lobdell Campout was enjoyed by all,

And our vacation with Tom & Elaine was a ball.

Now in closing and before I part

I’ll tell you I’m still enjoying my art

And seeing friends fly in their faith like a bird

As in my home I’m teaching women God’s Word.

Praising God for Jesus, as angels did at His birth!

Love & blessings to you, friends of great worth!

Dale and Linda

The Four Signs of Christmas

If you are like me, you find that signs are helpful and effective. Signs like: “Keep Out,” “Open or Closed,” “Detour,” “Help Wanted,” “Child Sleeping,” or “In Session,” can be very instructive from a time-management perspective an economic benefit and a directional clarification.

It is interesting to me that surrounding the birth of Christ there were four signs: (1) the sign of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14); (2) the sign of the guiding star (Matthew 2:2);  (3) the sign of the swaddling clothes (Luke 2:12); and the (4) the sign of the stumbling stone (Luke 2:34-35).

The first sign is found in Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call him Emmanuel.” This son would be like no other person.  He would be Emmanuel, “God with us!” The sign of the virgin birth, more correctly stated, the virgin conception, was biologically impossible without a mighty miracle of divine creation. This miraculous incarnation assures us that the omnipotent God has entered the human family once and for all.

This miraculous sign points to the miracle of our spiritual birth that only comes about because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Titus 3:4,5 speaks of the this miracle of the incarnation in regards to our salvation; “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…”

The second sign, the star, has been the subject of much speculation.  I will not go into the various views however, I know it was a literal star of some sort as the Bible says it was (Matthew 2:2).

What is so intriguing about this historical account is the fact that these gentiles were wise enough to seek for the King of the Jews that was predicted in the Word of God.

They were magi, who were members of the priestly caste in Persia, and who were experts in astronomy, astrology, and the Old Testament. Daniel and Mordecai had a profound influence on the Persian kings, so the magi could reasonably conclude that this spectacular star was, indeed, “his star “ (Matthew 2:2). Even though the text of Scripture does not say the star was a sign, it is fair to conclude that God used it to bring the magi to look for the “King of the Jews.”

So today “wise seekers” will seek out the prophecies of old to discover the hidden realities of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed One.  Even the Psalmist states that the heavens declare the glory of God,” and Paul in Romans 1:20 (KJV) states that “… the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

We do not need the sign of the star – we simply ought to respond to physical creation and glorify Him as the true God (Romans 1:21).

The third sign is the sign of swaddling clothes. Luke 2:12 (KJV) “And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”

Who would have thought the King of the Jews, the Messiah, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords would be born in such humble conditions. Yet this is a crucial ingredient of the message of Christmas. We do not find purpose, joy, fulfillment, and destiny in our pride, status or power but we find our strength and rewards by approaching the birth of Christ with humility, awe and contrition.

Psalm 69:32 “The humble shall see this (salvation), and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.”

The fourth sign is the sign of the stumbling stone. Luke 2:34 (NIV) “…This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” The opposition of which would mark the entire life of Christ, would begin with his birth, as Herod would seek, unsuccessfully, to slay Him.  Many would fall over this “rock of offense” in Israel (1 Peter 2:8) as Jesus carried out His Father’s will.

This sign points to the reality that each of us has an opportunity to respond to the complete message of Jesus Christ. For those that walk daily and consistently in his light we will be lifted up to the place where we live, not for our own desires, but to fulfill His powerful purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This Christmas would you remember these four signs surrounding the birth of Christ?

The sign of the virgin birth reminds us of our spiritual birth.

The sign of the star reminds us that true seekers still seek him.

The sign of the swaddling clothes reminds us that surrender is essential.

The sign of the stumbling stone reminds us that we are to remain steadfast.

May you follow the signs of Christmas,

Dale

copyright:  Dale Ebel, December 21, 2009