Because of Bethlehem: Every Day a Christmas, Every Heart a Manger
By: Max Lucado / Narrated By: Ben Holland
Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins
Remembering God’s incarnation as the Son this Christmas
Here it is:
I was raised Catholic but have since eschewed the religion in favor of a more Kindness/Love Directed approach to the world. I was quite simply put off by the whole: Us vs. Them lack of inclusivity.
That said?
I LOVE ANYthing where someone Walks Their Talk! Max Lucado? I’m looking at YOU! and thanks very much for that.
That said?
Oy, the amount of Scripture in Because of Bethlehem kinda sorta turned me off. But if you’re of the strict ilk of Scripture-based Faith? Oh, you’ll loooove this. I usually turn to Lucado as he usually packs his works up with instances in his own life where he’s learned lessons about himself, about Life, about Spirit. This is no exception, but it’s lighter on anecdotes and more heavily reliant upon the Word as transcribed by man. Not a problem for some, of course! but I really really REALLY feel I learn more when I hear something like: He had a near road rage encounter, thus showing us how we all fall, we all fail at times in our lives. These are things to be learned from, let go of, treasured for their value as teaching tools. There is Spirit to be turned to, blemishes upon our souls that Spirit can wash away.
Most appreciated by me was the humanizing of Mary and Joseph’s experiences as confused and desperate people, seeking to do right by their unborn child, but being grateful for what they received. Lucado opens by phrasing it as: A young woman ready to burst, being bumped and jostled the whole way, a man who’s trying to do the best for her, for this child which is not his own but will be raised with Love, nowhere to turn, indeed, No Room at the Inn. Plus, he humanizes the Innkeeper who probably COULD have found juuuuust a bit more space, but who, in an all-too-human moment misses out on the opportunity to have the experience of an Eternity. Who would choose otherwise? And wouldn’t each of us simply DIE for such a glorious opportunity?
Or would we be too tired at the moment? It’s too inconvenient, maybe later, maybe tomorrow?
I LOVE THAT!
So expect 3 hours of a few stories of Lucado’s own experiences, but with much Scripture (And by the way? For a Christmas Listen, this sure does throw a whole lotta “Revelations” and the Rapture in it…). And then the final hour is an Advent Sort of Study Guide, with each of the four weeks devoted to studying, pondering, and living a certain message, whether it be Hope, or Peace, or what have you.
But a Plus for the Study Guide section is veteran Lucado-narrator, Ben Holland. He ALWAYS brings out the best of Lucado’s passions, the best of his human foibles. That said, however, Holland reeeeally sooo aces it at the end which has Christmas Carols as spoken. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” has never sounded so pure and sweet. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has never sounded so passionate. Bravo, Mr. Holland, Bravo!!!
Okay, did I gripe about the Scriptures too much? Won’t you please forgive this ex-Catholic for being a little gun-shy about such all (And it’s actually kinda odd because I pray for the intercession of the Saints, like, ALL the time: St. Francis? Yes! Julian of Norwich? Yessssss!!!)?
If you’re of a mind where The Season is waaay too much about being a Commercial Enterprise; if you’re tired of seeing wreaths and stockings being put up even before Halloween, thus KILLING the Spirit, the Meaning of it all? Oh dooo give this little audiobook a try!
There’s a Reason for the Season. And Max Lucado is ALWAYS good for reminding us of that…
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