Henry Van Dyke has a story about a fourth wise man. His name was Artaban. He had planned to travel along with his fellow kings. However, he delayed to assist a woman who was dying. So, he missed the march west. As gifts, he carried a precious sapphire, a rare ruby, and an exquisite pearl. He had to give up his sapphire to help a starving family. When finally he found the stable, it was deserted. Mary and Joseph had scooped up the Child and escaped into Egypt. Artaban gave the ruby to secure the life of a babe destined to be destroyed by the mad King Herod. His search for the King of kings continued for thirty-three long years. When he learned of the events on Calvary, he rushed there to ransom Jesus with the priceless pearl. But on the way he met a man about to be sold into slavery. To his master he gave his pearl as ransom. At that moment, the earthquake struck. He was critically wounded by falling debris. The man he had just rescued held his head in his lap. He whispered into his ear, "Because you did it for one of these, you did it for me." Artaban had found his King. The same spirit that prompted Artaban to help the dying woman, the family, the infant, and the slave should motivate us to move out of our underground bunkers and do something similar, transferring our Bibles from our dusty shelves into our hearts and spirits.
Star of Bethlehem in Tony Melendez:
In its June 1989 issue, Reader’s Digest carried the story of Tony Melendez of California describing his life as an epiphany story. A "thalidomide baby," Tony was born without arms because his mother was prescribed thalidomide, a drug used to help calm morning sickness during her pregnancy. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. "I didn't feel comfortable," he explains, "I could use my feet so much more." His proficiency with his feet extended to more areas than just day-to-day care. He remembers that "at first, I started playing push-button organ. Then in high school I began playing around with the guitar and harmonica." He also began writing his own songs. It was also in high school that he became deeply involved in the Catholic Church and he persevered in his church activities, using his talents as a guitarist and composer for Masses and church related events. Demand for him increased to the point where he was directing and singing in music groups at up to five masses on a given Sunday. It was an unforgettable moment when, on September 15, 1987, he was invited to play his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles. Born without arms, he performed a touching song entitled “Never Be the Same.” When the Pope approached him from the stage to kiss him in appreciation, it seemed to reflect the sentiments of the entire country.
Since then Tony has traveled across the United States and twenty-seven foreign countries, making countless television appearances. He has also performed at The World Series, where he sang the National Anthem for the fifth game of the 1989 series. Tony has had the opportunity to give four additional performances for the Pope, twice in the Vatican, then in the Pope's homeland of Poland, and then in Denver, Colorado for World Youth Day, 1993. Along with television and major personal appearances, newspaper and magazine articles have appeared on him through out the world. Now as an author, his best-selling autobiography, A Gift of Hope, was published in 1989 by Harper & Row. As a highly talented composer and musician, Tony recorded his first album in 1989, followed by three other very popular albums, all carrying Christian themes of hope and encouragement to millions, especially the crippled and the disabled. Thus Tony has become the star of Bethlehem, by directing others to a loving and providing God through his own strong faith in God’s providence. Jesus manifests himself through his crippled disciple.
Currently, Tony resides with his wife Lynn and children in Branson, Missouri, which is best known for its small-town hospitality and world-class entertainment. There you can see Tony and his family and an all-star cast in an award-winning variety show, The Tony Melendez Show: "A Gift of Hope" at the IMAX Entertainment Complex.
Since then Tony has traveled across the United States and twenty-seven foreign countries, making countless television appearances. He has also performed at The World Series, where he sang the National Anthem for the fifth game of the 1989 series. Tony has had the opportunity to give four additional performances for the Pope, twice in the Vatican, then in the Pope's homeland of Poland, and then in Denver, Colorado for World Youth Day, 1993. Along with television and major personal appearances, newspaper and magazine articles have appeared on him through out the world. Now as an author, his best-selling autobiography, A Gift of Hope, was published in 1989 by Harper & Row. As a highly talented composer and musician, Tony recorded his first album in 1989, followed by three other very popular albums, all carrying Christian themes of hope and encouragement to millions, especially the crippled and the disabled. Thus Tony has become the star of Bethlehem, by directing others to a loving and providing God through his own strong faith in God’s providence. Jesus manifests himself through his crippled disciple.
Currently, Tony resides with his wife Lynn and children in Branson, Missouri, which is best known for its small-town hospitality and world-class entertainment. There you can see Tony and his family and an all-star cast in an award-winning variety show, The Tony Melendez Show: "A Gift of Hope" at the IMAX Entertainment Complex.
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