Paddy Ponders the Peace Regarding the Second Sunday of Advent

 

Advent Article 2: The Sacrificial Sign and the Unspoken Promise

Theme: Peace and the Prophetic Purpose

“Paddy, settle down, boy. We’re lighting the second candle now—the candle of Peace. We need peace because after the terror of the almost-stoning in Nazareth, the journey that followed was pure, chaotic stress.”

 

Paddy, my very articulate Golden Doodle, sighed and laid his chin on my knee. “I still don't get why they had to go, Dad. Couldn't God just change the tax forms?”

 

“He could have, but that's not how God works,” I explained. “God uses the chaos of man to fulfill His quiet plan. Joseph didn't divorce Mary; he remained faithful, obeying the angel's command. But that meant he now had to publicly claim Mary as his wife and legally adopt the child into the Davidic lineage.”

 

The Journey: The King’s Unwitting Escort

I told Paddy that our second step moves from the silent crisis to the political and prophetic stage. The signal fire for the Messiah’s arrival had already started with the priest Zechariah in the Temple (Luke 1:20). His muteness declared that the old covenant was being put on mute. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth reset the prophetic clock with the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:41).

 

“Then came the biggest travel headache in history,” I said. “The Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, thinks he’s running the show, ordering everyone to register for taxes around 7 BC.”

 

Paddy whimpered. “Taxes are stressful, Dad. I see how you get every time you do them! Did this Caesar guy have a reason to make everyone travel?”

 

“That’s a great question, Paddy, because it shows how Rome always worked: they used a velvet glove to hide an iron fist. The simple, official reason the Romans gave was cultural respect. By insisting Joseph travel to his ancestral home, Bethlehem, they appeared to honor the Jewish system of land ownership, which was tied to the ancestral clans and tribes.”

 

The Nefarious Purpose: Roman Theft vs. Prophetic Fulfillment

“But, Paddy, beneath the velvet glove was the hand of Roman theft. The nefarious purpose was pure, massive property seizure and control. This census (Luke 2:2) laid the groundwork for future taxes and the eventual Roman annexation of Judea. It also forced every Jewish family to acknowledge, on paper, that Caesar was their ultimate authority—a form of soft political coercion.”

“So, the whole reason Joseph and Mary walked 93 miles was so the biggest bully in the world could steal their great-grandfathers’ information?” Paddy looked disgusted.

 

“Precisely, Paddy. The King was born because of an administrative act of oppression. God used the financial greed and political maneuvering of the Roman Empire to fulfill the word of the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2). The most powerful man on earth thought he was ruling the world, but he was only directing traffic for the true King.”

 

Paddy thought for a moment, “Talk about BIG GOVERNMENT! They needed the Republicans in charge at the time… Huh Dad!”

 

“Careful Paddy! We aren’t allowed to wax political… but I like your thinking my little, small government puppy!”

 

Dad continued, “In any event, Joseph had to travel because he was of the House of David (Luke 2:4). The Emperor, seeking tax revenue, was an unwitting tool, forcing the Davidic family, with their massive entourage—Joseph, Mary, his four sons, his two daughters, and Mary's older sister (who was also called Mary, and was married to Cleopas, likely acting as the midwife)—on the arduous 93-mile journey to Bethlehem.”

 

“The entourage! Oh, wow!” Paddy sprang up. “So, Dad, all those people were traveling! No wonder every place was full! It’s like trying to book a hotel in Green Bay when the Packers are playing in town. I bet one of the boys had to lead the donkey. Dad, do you think they had a Golden-Doodle in the entourage?” Paddy asked hopefully.

 

“Only if they wanted more stress in their lives!” Dad replied.

 

“What?” said Paddy.

 

“Never mind, Paddy… it was a joke.” Dad calmly answered while patting Paddy’s head.

 

The Tower of the Flock

Dad continued, “Maybe a Golden Doodle led the donkey, Paddy. In any event, when they arrived in the overcrowded town, they found no room in the guest room.

 

“I thought they stayed in a Motel 6 or something similar… something called an Inn?' Paddy inquired.”

 

“No,” Dad replied. The word ‘Inn’ is a mistranslation of kataluma. It was the family guest room that was too full. You have to understand the structure of the Jewish four-room house at the time. Joseph’s relatives in Bethlehem would have had an extra room, but that was already filled. These same Bethlehem relatives of Joseph would have had a lower part of the house that would have stabled their animals, but that also must have been filled with even more relatives. So, the family was directed not to a random stable, but to Migdal Eder, also called the Tower of the Flock.”

 

Paddy's ears perked up. “A tower? With sheep? What’s next, Dad, what's next?”

 

The Sacrificial Sign and the Unspoken Promise

“Listen, this is where the peace starts, Paddy, because it means the chaos has a purpose. This tower, prophesied by Micah (Micah 4:8), was the specialized lambing shed where Royal Shepherds raised the unblemished male lambs destined for the Passover sacrifice. They were raising the very animals required for the Temple’s highest rituals. The Tower of Migdal Eder was near the place Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and died (Genesis 35:19). So, as a Mother of Israel who gave birth to the final son to form the twelve tribes of Israel, what better place for the new Mother of Continuing Israel (Jesus) to be born!”

 

The angelic sign confirmed the location’s purpose: “You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

 

“The shepherds knew instantly what this meant,” I explained. “The manger was the feeding trough, and the swaddling cloths were used at Migdal Eder to protect newborn sacrificial lambs from blemish. Sometimes newborn lambs will thrash about, and the shepherds would protect them by wrapping them in swaddling cloths.

Think of it, Paddy, Jesus the King was laid in the feeding trough of the sacrificial animals!”

 

Paddy looked solemn. “If that baby was royalty, Dad, why wasn't he born on a silk pillow? And why would God pick a lambing barn? I prefer beef, but I understand the symbolism. Was it drafty? I don't like drafty.”

 

“It was drafty, boy. But God’s peace isn't comfort; it's clarity. The King’s arrival meant that the stress of the Law, the turmoil of the census, and the chaos of the journey were all purposeful. He was born the unblemished Paschal Lamb from His first breath, fulfilling the Law that had caused Mary and Joseph such fear. That truth brings peace to the heart.”

 

Paddy asked, “Dad what about the Magi! You forgot the Magi! Tell me about the Magi!”

 

You will have to wait for next week Paddy.” Dad replied scruffling the fur on Paddy’s neck. “Next week!”

 

Pastor Jim is the shepherd of Trinity Evangelical Church and he invites you to read next week in the Posey County News the third in a four part series regarding the true story of Christmas as part of Advent. And Pastor Jim also wants you to attend the Church of your choice but if you are looking for a Church home, please feel free to join us for The Second Sunday of Advent, December 7th at our 10:10am service. Trinity is located on the corner of 5^th and Mulberry Streets.

First of a Four Part Series on Advent and Christmas:

 

The Righteous Man and the Royal Blood

Theme: Hope and the Necessary Lineage

 

“Paddy! Would you please stop humming 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' and bring me that gigantic catalog? You sound like you’re planning to buy out the entire Pet’s ‘R Us warehouse.”

 

Paddy, our curious Golden Doodle, bounded into the room, a massive, crinkled catalog clamped in his mouth. He dropped it, thumped his tail on the rug, and let out a little sigh that was half-excitement and half-exhaustion.

 

“It's beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” he whined, pushing his nose against the page listing all the new squeaky toys. “And I want this, and this, and this...”

 

“Hold on, boy,” I said, settling back into the chair. “Before you order a custom dog sled, you need to hear the real story of Christmas. It’s not about what you want; it’s about what God planned. It’s got way more drama than those little ceramic figures on the mantelpiece, I promise you that.”

 

“Advent?” Paddy asked. “I thought Christmas was the season.”

 

“Well, Paddy, Advent means 'coming.' It’s the season we prepare,” I explained. “We light four candles for the Sundays before Christmas: we start with Hope, then we light candles for Peace, Joy, and Love. This first coming week, we light the candle of Hope because God spent centuries setting up the perfect family.”

 

“Hasn’t Jesus already come?” Paddy asked.

 

“Yes, and he is planning on coming again!” I affirmed. “That's why we celebrate the Nativity; Jesus being born and now the expectation of Jesus coming again someday in the future to restore all things.”

 

The Patriarch, the Master Builder, and the Terrible Threat

I explained that the hope of Christmas rests on a foundation set long ago. Joseph, a mature patriarch, was a widower raising a complicated, ready-made family. He was a master builder—a tough tradesman, not a frail man.

 

“The Bible confirms Joseph had this huge family,” I said, tapping the Bible. “Later, when Jesus was preaching, people said: ‘Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ (Mark 6:3, WEB). That’s at least six children! Joseph was a successful, established man, likely in his late 30s to early 50s, when he married Mary.” He had four sons named after heroes of Israel, like Judah and Simeon, names that whispered of the old Maccabean heroes.

 

“So, the story of Christmas wasn’t just Joseph walking and Mary riding on a Donkey all by themselves to Bethlehem?” Paddy mused.

 

“Nope! It would have been total chaos. Can you imagine a family of eight walking 93 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem? You know what it is like when we get our large family together—a noisy but wonderful logistical nightmare!”

 

“Woof! That's a lot of people! No wonder they had trouble finding a room later! All those people traveling with them!” Paddy imagined the giant, noisy caravan.

 

Paddy’s Doodle brain wandered for a moment thinking about the upcoming Allen Christmas. “Yes, we have over twenty-five family members who give me endless attention!”

 

“That may be true, Paddy, but this Christmas we are going to also have eight dogs in the house. All of YOUR cousins are coming!”

 

Paddy immediately perked up, tail blurring. “We will be just like a wolf pack! Sleepin’ on top of each other and sniffin’ butts.”

 

“Well, I am glad you are looking forward to it. But Joseph had all that responsibility. He was securing the Davidic claim. So, when you imagine Christmas this year, think about what it was truly like.”

 

Why Mary Had Two Bloodlines (And a Co-Heir)

“See, Paddy, here is the secret to Mary’s being chosen as the perfect Mother of Jesus: The Messiah had to be the King (from Judah) and the ultimate High Priest (foreshadowed by Levi). How did Mary cover both bases? Mary was bi-tribal! Her father, Heli (Joachim), was a direct descendant of King David, giving her the royal blood. Her mother was from the Tribe of Levi, making her cousin to Elizabeth. So, Mary carried both lines: Royal from her father, Priestly Kinship from her mother! That’s why she was the perfect vessel.”

 

 

“Exactly! And the reason Joseph, the mature man (likely 40s), had to marry a girl, likely 12 to 14 years old, was due to the Legal Compulsion (based on the law in Numbers 36). Mary was a remaining co-heir of her father's estate. Joseph was legally bound to marry her to preserve the ancestral Davidic land claim. It was an act of sacred duty.”

 

Paddy looks up, scrunching up his nose. “Gross!”

 

“Well,” Dad continued, “Times were different and understand that Joseph married Mary to protect her under Biblical Law. History holds that Mary was 'ever virgin,' meaning those children listed in Mark 6:3 were Joseph’s sons and daughters from his first marriage and other than Jesus she never had any other children. That legal contract was everything. Sometime after Jesus’s twelfth birthday, we believe Joseph died. That meant Mary was a vulnerable widow, and the entire Davidic claim was exposed again. That legal contract was everything.”

 

“What’s next, Dad? What’s next?” Paddy nudged my hand, leaning in to listen intently.

 

The Moment of Crisis

“The moment Mary’s betrothal crisis hit, Paddy, the prophecy was at risk. Mary had been away seeing her cousin, Elizabeth, until Elizabeth was about to give birth to John the Baptist. Mary was returning home, and because she had been gone for three months, her pregnancy was now visible.”

 

Paddy looks up and says, “They had Baptists way back then?”

 

I paused, chuckled, and had to give him a gentle correction. “No, buddy, they didn't have Baptists—that’s a denominational label we use now. John was the Baptizer because of the ritual of immersion he used, not the denomination. He was the final prophet who stood in the tradition of Elijah, calling everyone to repentance. He was doing a New Covenant thing, not a Sunday school thing. It was unique.”

 

“Well, this wasn't a sweet movie scene, Paddy. This was life and death. Joseph—the guardian of the Davidic line—suddenly realized that under the strict Law, the woman he was legally bound to protect was now guilty of a capital offense. In their pragmatic town of Nazareth, Mary faced the terrifying threat of the honor killing mandate (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). Suspected infidelity during betrothal meant stoning. That’s the scary part, Paddy.”

 

 “I'm hiding under the blanket now, Dad.” Paddy dutifully scooted under the edge of the blanket, peering out with wide, nervous eyes.

 

The Righteous Man’s Mercy

“So, what did Joseph do? Did he scream and call the authorities, upholding the strictest letter of the law?”

 

“No. Joseph showed us that true righteousness is not legalism; it’s mercy. He used his knowledge of the Law to plan a secret divorce. This merciful act would save her life and spare her from the horror of public shame.”

 

“Woof! That was nice of him! Wow, what a stand-up guy!”

 

“It was heroic, Paddy. The Angel Gabriel had to intervene, not to save them from a Roman legion, but from a village mob, confirming the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, the righteous man—a man of mercy—simply obeyed the heavenly command, securing the destiny of the King.” The hope of Christmas starts with one man's act of silent, courageous mercy, ensuring the prophecy could proceed.

 

Pastor Jim is the shepherd of Trinity Evangelical Church and he invites you to read in the Posey County News the second in a four part series regarding the true story of Christmas as part of Advent. And Pastor Jim also wants you to attend the Church of your choice but if you are looking for a Church home, please feel free to join us for The First Sunday of Advent, November 30th at our 10:10am service. Trinity is located on the corner of 5^th and Mulberry Streets.

Paddy Ponders Friendship!

 

Paddy Ponders Friendship! Paddy Learns a Life Lesson at the Courthouse

By Pastor Jim Allen, Trinity Evangelical Church

 

The old Posey County Courthouse in Mount Vernon, Indiana, has seen a lot of things. Likely, more than a few tense debates, a stack of property deeds, and maybe a nervous groom or two waiting for the justice of the peace. But I’m betting this historic structure—firmly rooted in the bedrock of community—had never seen a Golden Doodle quite as captivated, or quite as existential, as Paddy was this past Tuesday.

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The Inconvenience of County Business

Our mission was simple: file my Honorable Discharge, my DD214, in the County Clerk’s Office. It’s a necessary bureaucratic safeguard for all of us who once served in the military.

 

“Why do you do that, Dad?” Paddy asked, head cocked with the intense scrutiny usually reserved for a dropped crumb of bacon.

 

“Well, I’ve made it a habit in every county we’ve lived in,” I explained. “It’s about making sure that if something happens to me—you know, when I finally trade my worn-out pulpit shoes for a pair of cloud-walkers—Grandma Carol or my kids can easily find that DD214 for any veterans benefits. It’s the responsible thing to do, like putting oil in the tractor before the haying season and not after it’s seized up.”

 

Stepping into the County Clerk’s Office is truly stepping into the bustling heart of the community. And there, right in the thick of it, was the wonderful Ms. Kay Kilgore, the County Clerk herself.

 

“Hello, Pastor Jim!” she chirped with a smile that could easily melt the Wisconsin snowfalls of my youth. “And look who’s with you! Good boy, Paddy! Try not to leave any fur on the public records.”

 

Paddy looked up at me with that signature Doodle eye-roll. I leaned down for the inevitable whispered commentary.

 

“Doesn’t she know I’m a Doodle and we don’t shed?” Paddy asked, his voice a dramatic hush. “I’m hypoallergenic! It’s in the breed manual!”

 

“Miss Kay’s just teasing you, Paddy,” I laughed. “Besides, I find your fur on everything at home. You’re a delightful, fuzzy menace.”

We chatted a moment. Miss Kay was one of the very first people Carol and I met when we moved to Mount Vernon and registered to vote. Her kindness has been a steady beacon ever since.

 

“And Don!” Paddy chimed in, realizing he’d forgotten someone important. “You said Don! He’s always such a good friend and faithful member of the Church!”

 

“Yes, Paddy, Don was instrumental in bringing me to Trinity. He even shared his house with us when we first moved here.”

 

“The one that looks like a museum?”

 

“Yes, that’s the one, Paddy. But more than the house, Don is just one of those guys who can always be depended upon. Miss Kay and Don are both the real deal.”

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The Price of Friendship: Time and Trouble

As we headed back out onto the courthouse sidewalk, Paddy’s paws stopped mid-prance, forcing me to stop a bit.

 

“Dad,” he asked, his voice a low, sincere rumble, “how do you know all those people? I mean, they all stopped their day, their important business, just for a quick word.”

 

I ruffled his golden curls. “Well, Paddy, Miss Kay and Don are my friends. That’s the answer.”

 

“A friend?” Paddy tilted his head, the universal sign of profound Doodle confusion. “What’s a friend, Dad? Does it taste like a jerky treat? Because if so, I’d like a dozen.”

 

“That,” I said, suppressing a chuckle, “is an excellent question! The great news Paddy is that the truth of friendship is spelled out for us in Scripture. The book of Proverbs tells us, ‘A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother’ (Proverbs 18:24). It’s that ‘sticking closer’ part that requires effort.”

 

“And the Bible also says that to have friends, one must show yourself friendly. (Proverbs 18:24). And you can spot those folks, can’t you? They’re usually caring, busy people who are willing to be bothered and, here’s the kicker, inconvenienced.”

Paddy’s tail gave a slow, thoughtful wag, like a fluffy pendulum measuring a heavy thought. “Inconvenienced? That sounds… like work. Can we avoid that?”

 

“It is buddy! That’s the metaphor. A true friend is someone who is willing to take a chunk of their day, maybe a piece of their peace, and be inconvenienced for you, and you for them, as life throws its inevitable curveballs. They don’t see their daily life just as a paycheck; they see it as a ministry—a way to serve. That’s why someone like Miss Kay is so involved with events like River Days—she’s willing to be inconvenienced for the community.”

 

“I love River Days, Dad!” Paddy barked, instantly forgetting his theological moment in favor of recreational opportunities. “As soon as I stop jumping all over people out of sheer excitement, you said I can go again!”

 

“That’s the deal, Doodle,” I laughed. “We’re still working on the ‘less jumping’ part. It’s called impulse control, and apparently, it applies to us humans as much as it does to excitable pups, especially when the barbeque fires strike up.”

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Paddy’s “Pack” of Friendly Inconveniences

“So, do I have friends, Dad?” Paddy asked, looking up with genuine, soulful concern in his big brown eyes. “Am I a friend-haver? Do I qualify?”

 

“Paddy, you have a whole pack of them! Think about Chris, our neighbor. You love Chris; he takes you for walks. That’s a willing inconvenience—lugging around a rambunctious Doodle who probably thinks every squirrel is a personal affront, takes commitment!”

 

“Yes, and Chris even picks up my poop in St. John’s Park so Father Rutherford doesn’t get upset,” Paddy added with proud sincerity.

 

“That’s right, Paddy, and I would suggest that someone who is willing to pick up your poop… is a great friend! That is the very definition of being inconveniently helpful.”

 

“And what about Miss Mary, our church secretary? You race to her office every week day like it’s the finish line of a sheep-herding competition.”

 

Paddy’s ears perked up. “Miss Mary makes my day! She makes me sit and counts to five before I get a hug and a treat. Honestly, a hug is all I need, but I don’t want her to know that. It’s an effective system,” he whispered.

“Then there’s Mr. Bill, one of our Trustees; he always takes time for you. And Miss Trudy always takes a moment to play. Even Miss Linda, our Church custodian, always stops her work for a friendly word. Paddy, every one of your ‘friends’ is willing to have a portion of their day, their schedule, or their peace inconvenienced for you!

 

“Wow,” Paddy said, his tongue lolling. “I guess I never thought about it. How can I be inconvenienced for them, Dad? I don’t have hands to carry things!”

 

“Just by being yourself, buddy. You light up the room with your infectious smile. When people see how much you value them—how excited you are just to be near them—they feel valuable. That is the essence of friendship: when people understand that you value them, they see you as valuable to their lives. As the great Wesleyan Evangelical theologian, Ben Witherington, reminds us, friendship is about mutual, self-giving love. And John Maxwell put it simply: ‘Friendship is about loving people, not using them.’ Even old Adam Clarke reminds us that friendship, especially with Christian virtue in mind, is one of the greatest aids to holiness. Don Thorsen would call it a life-giving relationship.”

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The Greatest Friend of All

And that, my Doodle, brings us to the greatest friend of all.

 

The Scriptures are filled with examples of this inconvenient love. Think of Job’s friends—before their misguided theological advice—who came to mourn and comfort him, sitting in silent solidarity for seven days (Job 2:11). Or the powerful bond between David and Jonathan, they were true buddies! (2 Samuel 1:26). A truly committed, inconvenient love that cost Jonathan his right to the throne.

 

But the most profound statement about friendship comes from Jesus Himself.

 

“Paddy, we are no longer just servants. Jesus looked at His disciples—and at us—and said, ‘No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you’ (John 15:15). Think of the humility in that, Paddy!

 

“And Jesus was inconvenienced for the whole world,” I continued, kneeling on the courthouse sidewalk to look him in the eye. “He was willing to be supremely and ultimately inconvenienced with His death upon the cross, laying down His life for His friends (John  15:13), so we could be made right with God. That’s a love that goes way past a five-second sit for a treat. He’s the ultimate ‘friend who sticks closer than a brother.’”

 

“Wow,” said Paddy, looking back at the courthouse, now less a place of paperwork and more a place of profound, inconvenient realization. “I never thought about it like that before. A friend is someone who is willing to be inconvenienced for you.”

 

“That’s right, Paddy. Now, let’s go home and be a friend to Grandma Carol, shall we? I think she needs someone to be inconvenienced by a wet nose and a little too much enthusiastic bouncing.”

 

For More Information: Pastor Jim encourages you to attend your Church of choice, but if you are looking for a Church home, please feel free to join us for the 10:10am Worship in the Trinity Evangelical Church Sanctuary. Pastor Jim and Paddy, the dog who wants even more friends will be excited to see you.