I’ll be out of town for the next week, so I’ve scheduled some posts from afar. But I’m not tech-savvy enough to know how to update my Facebook and Twitter status to demonstrate that those posts are available. So you can just check in throughout the week, or go ahead and subscribe to these posts (it’s a simple process–just use the form to the right of this post, under the profile text– and you end up getting these posts in your email inbox rather than needing to check them on this blog). Either way, Happy New Year!

And now, for the fourth installment of some Christmas meditations…

Read those lines again and tell me what you think. He (i.e. Jesus) rules the world. Really? Just look at the front page of the newspaper. Or, come off a week of family time and cranky children and too much food and wine and too many presents. Jesus rules the world? Really?

Well, yes. It’s just that he doesn’t rule it the way I would.

This king was born in a stable. This king touched a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. This king ate with tax collectors. This king forgave criminals and welcomed outsiders and loved children. This king was nailed to a cross.

And this king rules through the loving work of his people. I sometimes yearn for a divine proclamation, but Jesus promised instead to use human beings to accomplish his purposes of transforming the world into a place that proves who he is. A king, yes. But a king who rules through truth and grace.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come.