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Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life. God uses young people who are committed to following our Lord Jesus Christ. I know that Christmas is over as I write this (except for our Orthodox friends who celebrate until January 6th). However, I want to share thoughts that God has impressed on my mind while meditating on the Bible’s “baby Jesus” narratives in the last month. Perhaps they will help us see our young people in a different light, those in our own family, or in our church? Firstly, God is not afraid to take risks.[1] He trusted two teenagers with His Son! Mary was called by God to go through the rumour and shame of an unexplained pregnancy. In Luke 1:38 she responds to God in total surrender for costly obedience. She affirms she is living for God body and spirit. In Mary’s song (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55) she focuses on glorifying her Lord and rejoicing in her Saviour. Young people can lead us all in trusting God. Secondly, God used daily life to prepare Mary for her calling It was not only in words that Mary’s life centred on God. As she carried the unborn Son of God in her womb, she patiently waited for the natural time to pass before she gave birth to her supernatural baby, Luke 2:6. She attentively watched what was going on around her, visiting Elizabeth and Zechariah, travelling to Bethlehem, living with Joseph while remaining sexually pure. The two teenagers must have discussed many times their respective angelic visits and Joseph’s change of mind. One step of obedience can often lead to another if encouraged. Thirdly, God carefully chose the young people He would use While Mary’s life, “found favour with God”, we know more about Joseph’s life around Jesus’ conception and birth. Matthew 1:19 tells of a morally upright man. When his honour was publicly broken by his pledged woman’s pregnancy, Joseph was willing to suffer personal wrong for doing the right thing. A quiet divorce would cost him the dowry already paid – forfeited unless Mary was taken to the authorities. Then, for more months he restrained himself sexually although he had marriage rights, Matthew 1:24-25. God knows the heart secrets of all people. He is never mistaken in who He calls. Try to see as God sees. Fourthly, God confirms, to young people who will listen to Him, what He wants to do Using angels and dreams with Scripture based messages, God confirmed Mary & Joseph into the centre of His will for their lives. The whole world is still affected. After 30 years it was Mary & Joseph’s time to fade into the background and let “their” son do what His Father wanted. This needs to be true in every generation. As church leaders, may we help our young people into God’s service during 2015? [1] Joe Kapolyo Africa Bible Commentary (Word Alive: Nairobi) 2006, page 1113. January 2015.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. LIFE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. The roadside railings on most of Khartoum's bridges show evidence of past accidents. Each dent, buckle and gap represents a moment of trauma or tragedy for someone. I remember one day two years ago when a bus plunged from the Shambat bridge near my home, into the river Nile. Over a dozen people tragically died. Somehow the bus had broken out of control. From time to time since then, as I have walked across that same bridge, I have watched soldiers from a nearby camp in training . They appear to be required to jump from the bridge into the muddy brown water below. It seems well supervised, and so far as I know, no-one gets hurt. There is a lesson we can all learn by noticing the biggest difference between the bus incident and the training soldiers. On one hand the people on the bus were unconsciously committed to a vehicle that went out of control, smashing through the railings, becoming the major part of a tragic accident. On the other hand the soldiers carefully and deliberately climbed on to the railings and jumped when the command was given, under the watchful eye of their officer and with safety ropes to hand. As I look around I see too many people here who live carelessly pleasing themselves. To me, they give evidence that they are Christians, whatever they may call themselves. Genuine Christians keep in step with God the Holy Spirit, all through their daily lives. Their life- choices always honour God. Their minds are controlled by the Spirit, who blesses them with the life and peace of Jesus Christ, in whatever circumstances they have to face. Were we honest enough to admit it, some of our businesses, our homes and even our churches, may display the damage done by past incidents where somebody has been out of control. Much future trauma and tragedy in work life, home life and church life could be avoided simply, by submitting ourselves to the controlling influence of Jesus Christ, all of the time.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. A BATTLE EVERYDAY IN MY GARDEN. Where do you turn for protection when you see danger coming at you? King David wrote in Psalm 7, "My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart". God does not protect everyone from everything. But he does act as a shield for those whose lives seek to honour him. Most days in my garden I witness a life and death battle. I know when it is happening because dozens of small birds noisily twitter, having assembled in the branches of my large trees. I used to wonder what they were saying, but I now believe I know. Looking up into the sky over the trees, I can see African Black Kites gliding in circles, sharp eyes searching everywhere for their supper. I reckon these smaller birds - a sparrow is only a quarter size of a kite - are warning each other. They say things like: "Stay in the shelter of the tree". "Why take risks?" "Flying out will expose you to great danger". "A skilful hunter is up above". "Don't trust yourself". "Your best protection is in these branches". God has never promised to give Christians a trouble-free life. We are to expect trouble while we remain in this world. But he does offer a twofold protection: First, being upright and holy in all of our life's daily business will mean no true accusations can ever be brought against us. Second, God has placed himself as a shield between us and every enemy. All who would harm us must have his permission first. God’s arms are like the branches of a big tree. They are open wide to embrace all who recognise their need for shelter. His arms are much more reliable than other types of arms. Once secure in them, you need nowhere else to go.

Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life. We read something of our Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching about “giving” in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44. “Giving” is passing over ownership of something that is yours to somebody else, expecting nothing from them or anyone else in return for doing it. We all use shops most days of the week. We spend our money in them, buying food or other things we need. When we put money into our church offering it is different from shopping because we are not going to take away anything in exchange. This general principle is from 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. The church there was going to help believers far away. They heard about their special need and they gave. From the gospel readings above: Think about these five Christian ways to give: Give in the sight of Jesus. In the Jerusalem temple, Court of the Women, our Lord watched people dropping money into “13 trumpet-shaped containers in the walls”. He always sees everything, even today. Give worshipfully. Regular offerings were made as religious people came to pray. Two trumpets were for temple taxes. The other 11 were for voluntary gifts, some for a particular purpose, others not. Giving is a gift of God. 2 Corinthians 8:7. Believers are to be extremely good at it. Give sacrificially. Compared to people who donated large amounts but who left plenty for themselves, this widow chose not to keep anything herself and give every last penny to God’s work. She only had an extremely small amount of cash, but she held nothing back. What an example. Give, even if it is only a little. From God’s standpoint this widow had given Him the most – more than anyone else. She was disadvantaged by being poor and by being a widow. “She had almost no legal, religious, political or social status”. But, her next to nothing was everything! Give, in total trust and commitment to God. Until she worked again this widow may not eat. She relied on ‘Father in heaven’. Her money, like her life, was on the cross. Drawn from MacArthur Study Bible ESV (Crossway: Illinois) 2010, p. 1453, 1518. Africa Bible Commentary (Word Alive: Nairobi) 2006, p. 1193, 1245. Authors – Joe Kapolyo, Zambia; Paul John Isaak, Namibia.

Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life. Please read Luke 6:27-38. (See below if you do not have access to a Bible). The practical “loving of your enemy” stands a good chance of stopping violence. By it you show the difference that being a Christian makes to your everyday life. Our Lord Jesus teaches a revolutionary way of living in this collection of His sayings. “Loving your enemy” and “doing good to people who hate you” (or appear to hate you) is at the heart of the Christian gospel. It was while we were still opposing God, disliking Him very much or at best largely ignoring Him, that our Lord Jesus freely gave His own life as a price for our salvation. Our Lord Jesus tells those who choose to follow Him through life ten ways to treat people who try to harm them, not picking one or two, rather doing all ten: Love them, vs27, 35. Do good to them, vs27, 35. Bless them, vs28. Pray for them, vs28. Give to them, vs30, 38. Put their rights before yours, vs31. Be merciful to them, vs36. Do not judge them, vs37. Do not condemn them, vs37. Forgive them, vs37. Yes, this is difficult to do. In fact, it is almost impossible. But Christians are called to pick up and carry their crosses, to follow their Lord. To love our enemies means to reflect the nature of God, who loved the world despite its rebellion, John 3:16. Just as Christ’s remarkable act of self-sacrificial love produced reconciliation between God and human beings, so our self-sacrificial love and service to others, in the power of the (Holy) Spirit, can break the cycle of hate and violence and produce authentic reconciliation”. “Loving enemies and doing good to those who hate reflects exactly what God did for us. While we were sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us, Romans 5:6,8. [1] What follows is our Lord Jesus Christ speaking to His disciples, as recorded by Luke 6:27-38 (NIV): “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to other (people) as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. [1] R.T. France, Teach the Text: Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker books) 2013, page 114.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. CHANGE IS HERE TO STAY! Winter seems to have finally arrived. This week, on my early morning walks across the Nile, I have seen bridge guards wrapped in blankets against the brisk wind, soldiers sitting around their charcoal fires, and I've even been stopped by a friendly man with a gun who asked me (unsuccessfully) for a cigarette to warm his hands! What a change from summer, when folk were complaining it was too hot to sleep! This week the minimum temperature recorded on my hoash was 21 centigrade, that's six or seven degrees below the average for previous months. Seasonal change is all part of God's plan for his world. After the flood, God promised Noah, "There will always be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest". It helps me respond correctly when I know that all changes in my life are brought about by the guidance of my Father God. He is always reliable. He is never wrong. My God is always the same. He can never change for the better because he is already perfect. And since he is awesome in his own self-sufficient holiness, he will never deteriorate. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. All the time, he is never more than man and never less than Almighty God. With God the Son as our ever-present friend, and with God the Spirit as our always able Counsellor, and with God our Sovereign Father in complete control of all things, we Christians have no need to be afraid of any change whatever.

Cross thought: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”, 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV). Damnation is the righteous condemnation by God on the sinner who has not been redeemed by faith in the sacrifice of Christ. It lasts forever. Every human being, except one, is a sinner, Standing In Need before the holy creator God, because we do not do what we were made for. One future day God will hold everyone individually to account for this. The cross of Christ is the usual sign around which Christians meet. This is rather strange when we remember that the cross was (and sadly is) a method of execution. It seems an odd point of focus, until we realise what was going on. When Jesus of Nazareth died by crucifixion nearly 2,000 years ago He was doing something almost unbelievable. It is credible only because Jesus was, and is, God in human form. In His body of flesh and bones He carried a huge, yet invisible, burden. He died as substitute for the total world population. The stated punishment deserved by the sin of the whole world was placed upon Him. Yours and my sin was ‘on the Saviour on the cross’. The death Jesus died under the wrath of God was God’s holiness rejecting human sin, and justly buying salvation for those who commit to believing. The moral and spiritual perfection of the Lord Jesus is transferred to the lives of all people who trust Jesus to stand and say aloud on Judgement Day, “This person is mine”! Notice, “so that in him we might become” in the text above. The slang English swearword ‘damn’ terribly empties damnation of its awfully serious, eternal consequences. Where I live people get used to hearing it in trivial contexts. This makes us forget the ‘grave fate waiting beyond the grave’ for those who die without repenting of their personal sinfulness and trusting in God’s provided Saviour, Jesus Christ. The one, single, triune God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, truly damned Himself while offering the choice, to everyone He had ever created, of being saved forever. God has made sinners right with Himself while still satisfying His own justice. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in (through) Jesus Christ our Lord”, Romans 6:23. “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”, Isaiah 53:6. Crosses act like signposts, pointing away from themselves and to the Saviour! April 2015.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. A UNIFORM SCENT. Most days we can see children going to or from local schools in their pale blue, khaki brown or light grey 'battledress' uniforms. Comboni students wear dark trousers with white shirts, and have a school name badge sewn on somewhere. Unity pupils wear navy, black and white. Kimu charitable school Soba Aradi requests royal blue and white, while 'neat discretion' is the dress code of the American School. The very first Christians were noticed by those around them, simply because "they were unschooled men, who had been with Jesus". It was not because they dressed in special clothing. If you've been working with a smoky fire, the smell clings to your clothes and other people notice it. I turned a heap of composting vegetable and fruit peelings recently, and I could smell it on my person for days - even after several showers! Fishermen get so used to their particular aroma that I'm told they hardly ever notice it, although other people might find them high! Genuine Christians living among people from other faiths (or none) will emit catching fragrances. Their intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is attractive. Its 'sweet forgiveness', 'gentle peace', 'sacrificial love', and 'solid hope' make onlookers sometimes wish they could they could have these perfumes for themselves. Compulsory uniforms display to which school a child belongs. Pervading odours reveal where a person has been, or what they have just been doing. As you walk through your everyday life this week, pray that heads around you will turn to look. Pray people will notice you belong to, and have been with, Jesus. This is the attraction all the people of Sudan need to see.

preached to Khartoum International Church during 1999 - 2003. Series on the life of Abraham (six messages): Faith that leaves - Genesis 12:1-10 Faith that accepts - Genesis 13:1-8 Faith that fails - Genesis 16:1-16 Faith restored - Genesis 18:1-15 Faith that stretches - Genesis 22:1-19 Faith for the future - Genesis 24:34-51 Series on Joseph - what God is doing (five messages): 7. Chosen by God - Genesis 37:1-35 8. Kept by God - Genesis 39:1-23 9. God works out His purpose - Genesis chapters 40-41 10. God brings brothers to repentance - Genesis chapters 42-45 11. God is sovereign - Genesis chapter 46-50 Series on An approved workman - Timothy (three messages, two parts for each): 12. 2nd Timothy 2:22-26 13. continued 14. 2nd Timothy 3:10-17 15. continued 16. 2nd Timothy 4:1-8 17. continued Series God rules, O.K.? - the Minor Prophets (fourteen messages): 18. Men who speak for God - Micah 3:5-8 19. God's judgement is coming - Joel 2:1 20. God's concern for the world - Jonah 3:2 21. God requires social justice - Amos 5:14 22. God's faithful love - Hosea 3:1 23. God's witness against us - Micah 1:2 24. God does no wrong - Zephaniah 3:5 25. Trusting God's timing - Nahum 1:5 26. Asking God 'Why?' - Habakkuk 1:13 27. God avenges His people - Obadiah 28. God will be first - Haggai 2:8-9 29. God wants our renewal - Zechariah 4:6 30. God's claims on His people - Malachi 1:14 31. Men who speak of Jesus - Micah 5:2-5 Series on Our (KIC's) Statement of Faith (twelve messages): 32. We believe in the Bible - 2 Timothy 3:14-17 33. We believe in God the Holy Trinity - Deuteronomy 6:1-9 34. We believe in God the Father - John 4:1-26 35. We believe in God the Son - Isaiah 7:14 36. We believe in God the Holy Spirit - John 15:1-27 37. We believe in Satan - Matthew 4:1-11 38. We believe in the fall of man - Romans 5:12-21 39. We believe in salvation - Titus 3:1-8 ? We believe in heaven and hell - Matthew 25:31-46 << Sorry, looking for mislaid tape! 40. We believe in the Church universal - Revelation 5:9-10 41. We believe in the local church - Acts 15:36-16:5 42. We believe in the great commission - Matthew 28:18-20 Series on Ephesians (twelve messages): 43, The saints at Ephesus - Acts 1:1-3; 18:18-20:38 44. Every spiritual blessing in Christ - Ephesians 1:3-14 45. To know God better - Ephesians 1:15-23 46. God Who is rich in mercy - Ephesians 2:1-10 47. In which God lives by His Spirit - Ephesians 2:11-22 48. The unsearchable riches of Christ - Ephesians 3:1-13 49. I kneel before the Father - Ephesians 3:14-21 50. A life worthy of the calling - Ephesians 4:1-16 51. Created to be like God - Ephesians 4:17-5:20 52. Reverence for Christ - Ephesians 5:21-6:9 53. Be strong in the Lord - Ephesians 6:10-20 54. What the Spirit says to the churches - Revelation 2:1-7 Series on Discovering Jesus in Mark's gospel (twelve messages): 55. An introduction to Jesus - Mark 1:1-20 56. The authority of Jesus - Mark 1:21-28 57. Healing miracles of Jesus - Mark 1:29-34 58. Asking questions of Jesus - Mark 2:18-22 59. The call to follow Jesus - Mark 3:13-19 60. Parables of Jesus - Mark4:1-20 61. Other miracles of Jesus - Mark 4:35-41 62. Teachings of Jesus - Mark 7:1-23 63. Precisely Who is Jesus? - Mark 9:2-13 64. Betrayal of Jesus - Mark 14:1-11 65. Crucifixion of Jesus - Mark 15:16-41 66. Resurrection of Jesus - Mark 16:1-8 Series on Prayerfully Practical James (twelve messages): 67. Introducing James and his readers - James 1:1 68. Faith that stands testing - James 1:2-18 69. Faith that practices God's word - James 1:19-27 70. Faith that sees people differently - James 2:1-13 71. Faith shown by action - James 2:14-26 72. Faith shown by speech - James 3:1-12 73. Faith that is wise - James 3:13-18 74. Faith that makes you humble - James 4:1-12 75. Faith in planning - James 4:13-17 76. Faith in sharing - James 5:1-6 77. Faith in the Lord's return - James 5:7-12 78. Faith in prayer - James 5:13-20 Series on Acts: Living in the presence of the King (sixteen messages): 79. Baptism with the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:5 80. Water baptism and joining the church - Acts 2:41-42 82. Instant miraculous healing - Acts 3:6 83. Response to persecution - Acts 4:29 84. Joint sharing of possessions - - Acts 4:32-5:3 85. Church leadership - Acts 6:3-4 86. Personal evangelism - Acts 8:35 87. Personal conversion - Acts 9:5-6 88. Racialism and legalism confronted - Acts 10:14-15 89. Martyrdom and the sovereignty of God - Acts 12:2-3 90. Sending missionaries from the local church - Acts 13:29-31 91. Conflict resolution - Acts15:1-2 92. Recruiting younger people - Acts16:1-3 93. Living in the presence of the King - Acts 17:31 94. Going alone against Christian advice - Acts 21:12-14 95. Telling others what God has done for us - Acts 23:11 Other messages: 96. Who did what at Calvary? - 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:1 97. The mighty impact of God's presence - Psalm 19:1-14 97. When things don't work out - Philippians 1:12-30 98. A rule for the New Year - John 3::22-36

Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life. An anniversary is a date when people celebrate something important that has happened in a previous year. These pictures remind me of teaching at a pastors’ conference in Bahri, preaching to young people in Arabic ministries near Suk 2 Khartoum, and taking a service in Fittihab ECS. All three events were in the last century! The month of May in recent years holds many sad memories for Sudanese people. It is the anniversary of: North fighting a war with Southerners in Abyei, over oil, in 2008. North occupying Abyei, a then disputed border region, 2011. Sudan pledging to pull out and resume bilateral talks on Abyei, in 2012. Conflict between Southerners displacing over 1million people and forcing 5 million (almost entirely Southerners) on to humanitarian aid in order to live, in 2014. Only GOD KNOWS what is going to happen in Sudan and South Sudan during 2015. (I write this 13/04/15). Let’s pray for a just peace to come. When Joshua erected a memorial of twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan river at the very first campsite they made in the promised land, it was to act like an anniversary. In following years, every time people saw it they were to remember what God had done drying up the river until everybody had safely crossed. (See Joshua 3:14-4:13). Christians regularly remember the human body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ when celebrating Communion (the Lord’s Table/Supper/the Eucharist). (See 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). He sacrificed Himself to get into the position where He could be the Saviour of the world. It is a ‘bloody’ feast, but it is His pure sinless blood that makes it effective. Only Jesus is Mediator between humans and God. He is God’s appointed Way. What anniversaries or memorials, will you think of this month? A touched wedding ring may remind you of loving promises. Eaten bread and wine do show eternal salvation. A national and international peace accord will surely mean a lot when it is reached? So, “We pray for all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour”, Part of 1 Timothy 2:1-6. And we keep on doing what good we can. May 2015.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. INCARNATION MORE REMARKABLE THAN EVOLUTION Today there are just ten days left until Christmas. We celebrate again arguably the most unique event that ever happened in human history. An incarnation (with lower case ‘i’), is the act of showing oneself in bodily form. Christian theology teaches the Incarnation (with capital ‘I’), is the assuming of a human body by God the Son. I believe that God showed himself in human form as Jesus Christ. Evolution is a theory some scientists believe, to try and explain the gradual changes in plants, animals and humans, which produce today’s species from ancestors characteristically unlike themselves. God our Creator knew humankind could never evolve sufficiently to recover everything we lost at ‘the Fall’. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, our most important relationship was broken. People are still made to relate to God, but that single disobedience has become a solid barrier which no purely human being can cross by their own effort. Our ancestors were sinners before the Holy Creator God, and so are we. Like them, we are separated from God. No amount of our praying, fasting, charitable work, or otherwise good living, will ever remedy our situation. And that is how things would have permanently remained for everyone, except God has stepped into our world. God appeared as a baby born in a stable at Bethlehem. His divine Father and human mother named him ‘Jesus’. He was the precise representation of God. His nature was God. He was man as God intended man to be. Don’t misunderstand me please. God the Son always existed. Long before this he spoke our world into creation. At Christmas, we Christians remember the fact that this already living God the Son became flesh. He lived for a while among people. This would be unbelievable if it were not gloriously true! You and I can never evolve on our own into a right relationship with God. God’s Incarnation as Jesus provides the only acceptable Saviour. In Jesus’ birth, life and death, God himself removes the barrier between him and us. So the way to a truly Happy Christmas is opened. Ask God the Son to make you a child of God. I have found this Jesus remarkably worthy of my trust. I’m sure you will too.

Christian thoughts from everyday life in and around the three cities. THE STREETLIGHT, THE STAR AND THE SAVIOUR. The immense miracle of Christmas can be discovered from looking at the streetlights and stars, as well as the angel's message to Joseph in Matthew 1:20,21. Jesus The baby about to be born to Mary was her first. He was a real boy, a fully human being, an absolute miracle-birth without human father. The name 'Jesus' was popular. It means: 'God saves'. Mary's son would be exactly as the angel had told her. Son of God This baby was conceived from God the Holy Spirit. The created human embryo enclosed the previously existing God the Son. Like any baby, Jesus would resemble his Father. He would exactly represent God to people. He would help them understand by faith. In Jesus God had taken human form. A Christmas miracle! Saviour As both fully human and fully divine, this unique Jesus would be the Saviour humankind needed. He was God bringing us back to a right relationship with himself. Jesus' life of sinless perfection showed God's holiness. His death was unnecessary, as only sinners have to die. Yet at every communion service Christians remember the fact Jesus did die. He lived as God's representative and died as man's substitute. He died to save his people from their sins, just like the angel said he would. He made the miracle of personal salvation possible. Streetlights and stars. When you're walking along a city street at night you may be able to see electric streetlights on poles about five metres above your head. Behind those lights are smaller looking stars, twinkling away in the dark sky. The stars are thousands of miles distant, not just a few metres. This makes them appear to be smaller and less bright than streetlights. But reality is not what it appears! Each star is far bigger than our own sun and many times more powerful than any streetlight! Yet from our usual perspective, it doesn't look that way. Some people have a wrong view of who this Christmas Jesus really is. He actually is 'Jesus, Son of God, and Saviour', to all who believe.