What a great Christmas carol. Odds are we have heard or sung “Joy to The World” a thousand times. We may have even sung it on this Christmas morning. Yet, I wonder if we fully comprehend the word “Joy”. What exactly does it mean. Happiness? Gladness? Great pleasure?  C.S. Lewis didn’t think so. Lewis, a British writer and lay theologian, once described Joy as the … [Read more...]

While Shepherds Watched, Part IV by Jim Brewer   Amos was now alone, a sole shepherd guarding the sheep, as the others departed hastily towards Bethlehem in search of the newborn King, the Anointed One of God. The Angels had come and gone, leaving the shepherds with amazement and joy. The Messiah, promised from the beginning of time, had been born that night in Bethlehem. But someone … [Read more...]

  The Glory of the Lord   Amos, a young shepherd from Judaea was guarding the gate of the sheepfold while his father, Benjamin, and Shimron, his uncle, were asleep. The three shepherds had 98 sheep in their flock, intended to be sold as sacrificial lambs to the worshippers in the temple in Jerusalem at Passover. The flock had just been moved to pastures outside Bethlehem where … [Read more...]

  Tending Special Sheep   Amos, his father Benjamin and his uncle Shimron had just finished driving their sheep herd some ten miles to the outskirts of Bethlehem. Two other groups of shepherds were using the same ancient fold erected from stones as the shepherds settled into their open quarters that cold, clear winter night. Amos, a young man of 14, had placed his bedding at the … [Read more...]

While Shepherds Watched, Part IV   Amos was now alone, a sole shepherd guarding the sheep, as the others departed hastily towards Bethlehem in search of the newborn King. The Angels had come and gone, leaving the shepherds with amazement and joy. The Messiah, promised from the beginning of time, had been born that night in Bethlehem. But young Amos thought someone had to stay and … [Read more...]

(Part II of a IV Part story: While Shepherds Watched) Amos, a young shepherd from Judaea was guarding the gate of the sheepfold while his father, Benjamin, and Shimron, his uncle, slept. The three shepherds had 98 sheep in their flock, intended to be sold as sacrificial lambs to the worshippers in the temple in Jerusalem at Passover. There were two other smaller flocks in the fold with their … [Read more...]

(Part II in a IV-part series) Amos, his father Benjamin and his uncle Shimron had just finished driving their sheep to the outskirts of Bethlehem. Amos, a young man of 14, had placed his bedding at the entrance to the fold, keeping the sheep inside and guarding the flock from predators. These were not ordinary sheep. They were special. The flock included the lambs that would be used as a … [Read more...]

A 4-part short story by Jim Brewer   Seeking Pasture Near Bethlehem   The sheep had gone easily into the fold that evening. Young Amos was pleased that he had not been called on to round up any stragglers. Rather, the flock of 98 was safely within the confines of the corral made of stones from the fields, and erected just north of the town of Bethlehem, known to the … [Read more...]

A few years back, I wrote a short story called While Shepherds Watched. The story is about those shepherds who were in the fields that night near Bethlehem when Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in a Bethlehem stable. The story is how I imagined the situation, who the shepherds were, why they were there in the first place, what they must have thought and my take on the incredible, heavenly glory … [Read more...]