The Crimson Thread of Christmas – Amos

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

If the history of Israel teaches us anything it is that there is a reckoning for sin.  Our sin is the darkness in our tapestry.  The prophet Amos reminds us that the coming Christ will judge that sin.

The world needs redemption.  The Father’s plan for that is his Son.  The Son comes as a human.  He will be both the sacrifice and judge.  Jesus reminds us that he will judge and that his judgment is just.   . 

The thread weaves its way through the book of Amos reminding us that there will eventually be a reckoning for sin.  The question will be where we land in that judgement.  The Judge, however, comes first to pay the penalty. 

The child in the manger becomes the man who pays for our sin.  He will also return to rid the world of that sin.   Mercy and grace are offered as the finest plea bargain ever imagined.  It is offered freely by faith.  What a beautiful gift.

The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash

"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder

One of the four beasts saying,

'Come and see.' and I saw, and behold a white horse"

There's a man goin' 'round takin' names

And he decides who to free and who to blame

Everybody won't be treated all the same

There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down

When the man comes around

The hairs on your arm will stand up

At the terror in each sip and in each sup

Will you partake of that last offered cup

Or disappear into the potter's ground?

When the man comes around

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers

One hundred million angels singin'

Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettledrum

Voices callin', voices cryin'

Some are born and some are dyin'

It's alpha and omega's kingdom come

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree

The virgins are all trimming their wicks

The whirlwind is in the thorn tree

It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks

Till Armageddon no shalam, no shalom

Then the father hen will call his chickens home

The wise man will bow down before the throne

And at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns

When the man comes around

Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still

Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still

Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still

Listen to the words long written down

When the man comes around

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers

One hundred million angels singin'

Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettledrum

Voices callin', voices cryin'

Some are born and some are dyin'

It's alpha and omega's kingdom come

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree

The virgins are all trimming their wicks

The whirlwind is in the thorn trees

It's hard for thee to kick against the prick

In measured hundredweight and penny pound

When the man comes around

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts

And I looked, and behold a pale horse

And his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with him"

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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