IT IS ALL IN THE RESUMES Author Unknown

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
The Woodcrafter' s Carpenter Shop
Nazareth 25922

FROM: Jordan Management Consultants
Jerusalem 26544

RE: Personnel Evaluations

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests, and we have not only run the results through our computers, but also arranged personal interviews for each
of them with our psychologist and vocation aptitude consultant. It is the opinion of the staff that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capacity. We have summarized the findings of our study below:

Simon Peter is emotional, unstable and given to fits of temper.

Andrew has absolutely no quality of leadership.

The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interests above Company loyalty.

Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.

We believe it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.

James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, definitely have radical leanings. Additionally, they both registered high scores on the manic depressive scale.

However, one of the candidates shows great potential. He's a man of ability and resourcefulness; he is a great networker; has a keen business mind; and has strong contacts in influential circles. He's highly motivated, very ambitious and adept with financial matters. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your Controller and Chief Operating Officer.

All the other profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you the utmost success in your new venture.

What if Jesus had chosen the twelve based on the modern methods of leadership selection? Most of them would have never had a chance to participate. Jesus chooses people not for who they are, but for what they can become in Him. Aren't you glad that when Jesus looked at you, He didn't take you for what you were (a sinner); but He took you for what you could be? Jesus sees the potential in all of us, and has called us to be disciples. Jesus is still saying, "Follow Me!"

SOMEONE ELSE'S BIRTHDAY By Sally I. Kennedy

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Luke 2:5-7

After Christmas, a couple years ago, I received an email from a family friend, a young mom who was commenting on her toddler's take on Christmas.

"I think my son will really look forward to Christmas next year - now that he gets it - on the kid level anyway. He knows it is Jesus' Birthday and I think he's pretty impressed that on someone else's birthday - he gets all the gifts!"

Short and sweet. Profound truth. The "kid level" is where I hope I'm at now this time of year has rolled around. For a lot of reasons, particularly because it's Someone else's birthday.

Happy birthday, Jesus!