I wonder how much money is spent on advertising between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I read on one web site an estimate of over a billion dollars in 2015.  Over a billion dollars to get you in their store or on their web site to buy more stuff!  Ever wonder about God’s marketing plan?  The universe is quite a “bill-board” but beyond that, how would we know what He wants?  You might say, “Silly Pastor, Christians are His ambassadors, you should know that.”  But, sometimes His ambassadors don’t leave a very good impression, then what?  Does God have a PR Dept. to handle these situations?  Looking back at the birth of His Son makes one wonder if God is into marketing at all.  If Jesus was sent to save the world, it seems like a bigger ad campaign would have been helpful to get the word out.  The people that did spread the word were not very reputable in all honesty.  Shepherds?  Seriously?  Some writers suggest that God is a bit shy.  But if He’s God, why would He be shy?  Certainly he is not an introvert afraid to make a public appearance!  The whole nativity story brings this “shyness” of God to light.  For example, Bethlehem is an important city but hardly Grand Central Station.  Location.  Location.  Location.  ☺  Dallas Willard says that God is so big He has to hide…and if He didn’t hide we couldn’t hide.  If that is true then God’s arrival as a baby in an animal hostel makes a bit more sense.  The Nativity story would not seem legitimate if it was characterized by a marketing plan.  I say that because God’s ways before that time and even today are not “in our face.”  God is available to those who want Him and He is sufficiently hidden for those who don’t want Him.   The Christmas story reminds us that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  Join us Sunday, we’ll explore this theme a bit more.  Merry Christmas!