The manger is quieter than our calendars, and that’s the point. We sit with Dr. Ben Porter to explore how the Nativity’s simplicity, an ordinary place, a young family, and the presence of God, can reset our pace, heal our hurry, and restore what matters most. Instead of chasing perfection, we trace a gentler path toward presence, where spiritual growth often happens off‑schedule and in stillness.
We share practical ways to make room for God in daily life: early‑morning rhythms, dim spaces that reduce visual noise, and simple habits that invite unhurried prayer and Scripture. The conversation follows the Gospel thread from Bethlehem to today; God meets people in ordinary places and uses overlooked people for extraordinary purposes. The shepherds become our teachers; availability beats acclaim. Along the way, we talk about entertainment versus engagement and why our best days end with meaningful connection rather than passive consumption.
This episode leans into the heart of Advent themes: hope, peace, love, and joy, as lived realities, not seasonal slogans. We unpack how unconditional love is revealed in Christ’s birth, why presence uncovers the needs beneath words, and how everyday interactions build relationships that last. For our school community and beyond, Dr. Porter’s “dash” metaphor challenges us to steward this season well: show up for one another, celebrate generously, support steadily, and let quiet faithfulness point to Jesus.
If this conversation helps you breathe a little deeper and choose presence over performance, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. What simple practice will you start this week?
Episode Transcript
Welcome to our Advent Podcast series, where we prepare
our hearts to celebrate thecoming of Christ.
During Advent, we remember thatGod entered our world bringing
hope, peace, love, and joy, notas distant concepts, but as
gifts fulfilled in Jesus.
Each week, you'll hear from aspecial guest who will share
scripture and personal testimonyas we reflect on what it means
(00:26):
to live in Christ's presence.
Whether you're listening athome, in the classroom, or on
the go, our prayer is that thisconversation draws you closer to
the heart of Jesus, who isEmmanuel, God with us.
Mrs. Erin Kay (00:44):
Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of
the Ben Lippen Podcast.
This is our Advent series of2025, and we have a special
episode today.
And I have with me Dr.
Ben Porter.
Welcome.
Thanks for being with us heretoday.
Dr. Ben Porter (00:57):
Thank you for having me.
Mrs. Erin Kay (00:58):
Today we're going to be talking about the
simplicity of the nativity.
But Dr.
Porter, take a second just tointroduce who you are and what
you do here at Benlipen.
Dr. Ben Porter (01:06):
Yeah, so Ben Porter in year 16 here at Ben
Lippen.
Done a little bit ofeverything.
We started out, my wife and I,with our two kids, Dragon Stone,
as house parents back in 2010and different roles throughout
the years, but just began myfirst full year ahead of school.
Mrs. Erin Kay (01:20):
So all right, so let's dive right in.
So as we know, the nativitystory is often wrapped in
glowing lights, beautiful music,and lots of festive
celebrations, even here at BenLippen.
Yet scripture presents a scenemarked by quiet simplicity.
And as believers, the nativityoffers a gentle invitation to
slow down, to breathe, andreflect on the profound ways
(01:42):
simplicity nurtures emotional,spiritual, and relational
health.
So, Dr.
Porter, share with us moreabout the simplicity of the
nativity.
Dr. Ben Porter (01:52):
Yeah, well, if you take the story just in and
of itself, right, you go back tothe setting of the scene, you
know, you're in a stable.
You know, there's not competingvoices, there's not crowds,
there's not schedules.
There's simply a young familyin the presence of God.
And so, you know, you look atthat and you think, you know,
what does that look like?
What does that mean to us?
And as believers, I thinkspeaks to us the fact that his
presence, not perfection, is theimportant part, right?
(02:13):
It's the part that heals.
It reminds us the mostmeaningful growth can often
happen when there's notstructure, you're right.
And there's not theanticipated, you know, you can't
always plan spiritual growth,right?
It's not uh linear in that way.
And oftentimes this is thestillness, you know, when
distractions are gone, whenthere's calm, when there's just
a time to sit with your ownthoughts.
That's where God works, andthat's where God has worked for
years and years and years.
(02:33):
And so I think it's importantthat we find ways in our own
lives to do just that, to limitour schedules, to limit, you
know, and to find a little bitof boredom perhaps, you know,
just kind of be alone with ourown thoughts and let God speak
to us in those moments.
Mrs. Erin Kay (02:45):
So speaking of building simplicity into our
lives, where in your life haveyou created space for simplicity
and how has that brought youcloser to the Lord?
Dr. Ben Porter (02:54):
You know, I think it's looked different over
the span of having kids, right?
So when they were really young,that probably looks a little
bit different than it does forme now.
But for me, it's always one ofthe consistent things, it's
always been getting up beforeeverybody else, you know.
And so I'm an early morningguy, enjoy my mornings with
coffee.
And what I often do on mybetter days is I shut all the
lights off.
I keep the lights off in thehouse, make my coffee, and I
just sit.
(03:15):
And, you know, whether I'mlistening to scripture, just
having a conversation, you know,with God, whether my eyes are
open or closed, it doesn'tmatter.
I'm not distracted by the cupthat was left out, you know,
from the night before or theshoes that weren't put away, uh
really gives me a chance just toreally focus in and just have
real conversation, really realcommunion with God.
And for me, so lights out areis a is a pretty key deal.
I like things in order.
(03:36):
And so when things aren't inorder, it's hard for me to
really simplify and calm mybrain down.
So turning lights out has beena trick for me to be able to do
that a little bit, a little biteasier.
Mrs. Erin Kay (03:45):
Through the birth of Christ, what is the
connection to how God meetspeople in ordinary places?
Dr. Ben Porter (03:52):
When you look at the story, again, going back to
the stable, God had the abilityto enter this world any way he
wanted to.
And he chose the unremarkablemanger, right?
It didn't come through power orwealth or status, but instead
came as a child, as an infantwho was fully dependent on a
human mother to care for him andall things.
And so, you know, a lot oftimes, you know, when we're
looking at at ordinary places, alot of us feel like you know,
(04:12):
we have to get things together,we have to figure ourselves out
before we, you know, go tochurch or before we do something
in response to how we feel withour faith and things of that
nature.
And it's just not true, right?
And so we see time and timeagain, but even going back here
where God just steps into messy,humble spaces without
hesitation.
And so again, it wasn't aboutthe the grand entrances, it
wasn't about that.
It was simply a family with ababe and a manger who happened
(04:34):
to be the savior of the world.
So it's pretty ordinary in someways, but obviously
extraordinary in others.
Mrs. Erin Kay (04:41):
Bridging that together to where we are today,
how can we use ordinary, simplemoments in our lives to connect
us to others and the Lord?
Dr. Ben Porter (04:51):
You know, thinking back to my time in
education, this is year 24 forme.
And one of the things that Ifind the most exciting is that I
still have former players,former students that'll reach
out to me from time to time, youknow, some I keep in contact
with pr pretty regularly, askingme for advice, you know, and
how do I do that?
And you know, as I think backto the foundations of those
relationships, it wasn't becauseof a spectacular moment or
(05:13):
particular set of events.
Uh, it was just the fact thatthere was a season that God had
me live life alongside thoseindividuals.
And and during that season,through ordinary conversation,
ordinary interactions,foundations for relationships
were formed.
And these foundations of these,well, these relationships
rather continue to this day.
And it gives me a chance to toreally continue to have an
impact on those lives.
And and you know, seeing formerplayers and students and all
(05:35):
that have now grown up andgotten married and have their
own kids and to watch them, youknow, father their sons or their
daughters and all, is it'sreally a special, special thing
as an educator to be able to beat this point and be able to
look back.
But but when you look back andyou and you think through what
are the where was theconnections and you know how
those things happened, it wasthe the normal, everyday, you
know, living life aside on, youknow, things that that really
(05:57):
allows me to still have ahopefully a positive impact on
those lives.
Mrs. Erin Kay (06:01):
Through the story of the birth of Christ, we see
some of the most ordinary peopleused in extraordinary ways.
How can the simplicity of whothe Lord used at the nativity
shape us as believers today?
Dr. Ben Porter (06:15):
When you look at the the very first witnesses,
they were shepherds.
You know, you have ordinary,often unseen, overlooked people,
but yet God uses them to be theannouncers of Christ's birth.
And so, you know, as believers,we we get to see, you know, how
God uses all people, regardlessof things, but but he has
particular purpose for them andfor their lives.
And so what a great message,you know, with that and and who
(06:36):
he uses and how he uses you knowfolks there during this time,
where you compare it to theworld today where often you know
the busyness um is seen as asof great importance, you know,
but again, you go back to thequietness of the stable, right?
And you go back to thesimplicity of that.
And so, you know, I think thatagain, going back to like we
talked about previously, youknow, clarity often emerges in
calm, simple spaces.
(06:57):
And I think this is anotherexample of that, not just with
the setting, but also the peoplebeing used as well.
Mrs. Erin Kay (07:02):
What noise in our lives often distracts us from
the ordinary ways the Lord seeksto connect with us?
Dr. Ben Porter (07:09):
You know, I think right now we are, as
people, myself included, we'rereally good at being
entertained.
We're not really good at beingengaged.
And, you know, when I'm at mybest, so when I put my head on
my pillow at night and I've hadmy best days, it's the days that
I've been engaged and I've beencommunicating and interacting
with people, not the days thatI've sat and watched movies or
Netflix or or whatever the caseis.
And so I do think that there'splenty of noise out there,
(07:31):
right?
And there's plenty of things todistract us.
You know, the old saying thatthe devil will, if it can't get
you to trip up on the bigthings, he'll distract you with
enough of the little things tokeep you from being, you know,
being effective.
And I think that there's a lotof truth in that.
I see it in my own life, youknow, where whether it's you
know, doom scrolling or whateverthe case at the end of the
night, where you know, there'scertainly better things that I
could be doing with my time.
Plenty of noise, you know, thethe drama, the politics, the
(07:53):
everything, you know, again, notin and of themselves inherently
bad, but giving too muchattention, you know, they they
certainly can become idols andand part of the noise that that
uh messes up the message that uhGod's trying to give us.
Mrs. Erin Kay (08:05):
We know that the birth of Christ is one of the
deepest acts of love the Lordshows us.
Share with us your thoughts onthe unconditional love the Lord
shows us through Christ's birth.
Dr. Ben Porter (08:15):
You know, when you when you consider
unconditional love and itstotality is such a tremendous
goal for us, and you think aboutthe Lord, right?
And so he gives his one andonly son, already knowing the
outcome and what it's gonna beand how that's gonna play out.
But he does it anyway.
Why?
Because he loves us that much,unconditionally, because we
didn't deserve it.
We certainly still don'tdeserve it, but despite who we
(08:36):
are, he loves us anyway, andit's a beautiful definition of
unconditional love.
And it starts with the birth ofChrist, right?
It starts with all the thingsthat go into this, the reason
that we're that we celebrateChristmas, right?
And all those parts.
But the unconditional lovecomponent is an awfully lofty
goal for humans, and it isexactly the right goal.
But I don't know that it's onewe'll we'll ever be able to
meet, not this side of heaven.
Mrs. Erin Kay (08:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
And so, what are some ways thatwe can really lean into that
unconditional love to notice theneeds of others with more
intentionality?
Dr. Ben Porter (09:06):
Yeah, I think it ties back to the previous
question where the differencebetween being entertained and
being engaged.
When we're engaged, then we wedo have those relationships.
We are being intentional aboutour conversation, we are paying
attention not just to what'sbeing said, but but why people
are saying what they are.
And I think in in thosemoments, you know, we have the
ability to love people wellbecause we get to see different
(09:28):
parts of them.
It's the challenge when withthe differences between a text
message and a conversation,right?
In a text message, you see whatthe person wants you to, the
message, but you don't hear thebackstory, you don't hear the
the way it's said, you know,those type of things.
But in a conversation,particularly face-to-face, you
see facial expressions, bodylanguage, all those things speak
into the conversationdifferently.
(09:48):
And if we're intentional and ifwe're mindful in those moments,
well, we have a chance to lovepeople differently, right?
We have a chance to care forthem differently because we see
their needs differently than wewould in a text situation.
So uh again, yeah, how do wehow do we love others well?
How do we how do we become moreunconditional?
How do we take care of people?
It really comes with beingfully engaged in conversation
and being present in the momentsthat we're in.
Mrs. Erin Kay (10:10):
How does the nativity reorient us to what
matters most?
Dr. Ben Porter (10:14):
You know, I think it's again, when you
compare it to what we saymatters most versus what we know
matters most, they lookdifferent.
And so, you know, when you lookat the nativity, again, going
back to the simplicity, again, asimple family with a baby who
happens to be the savior of theworld in a very simple moment,
compared to the complexity ofthe world that we live in and
the things that we deem is veryimportant in the times, you
(10:35):
know, the nativity gives us achance to sit back and reflect
and to pause and and to considertruly the importance of life,
the purpose of life, and whyGod's put us here in comparing
our daily activities and ourdaily complex, you know,
conversations or actions,whatever that looks like,
compared to the simplicity andrecognizing the fact that things
that we do in our life todaythat are meaningful still tie
(10:58):
back to the simplicity of thenativity.
Mrs. Erin Kay (11:01):
Our final question is about Ben Lippen and
how Ben Lippen is known for itscommunity.
How can we as a communityembody the simplicity and the
magnitude of the birth of Christbeyond the Advent season?
Dr. Ben Porter (11:14):
You know, when I was coaching, I used to have
what we call dash talks.
And so, dash talks on yourtombstone, you'll have the year
you're born, you'll have a dash,then the year you passed away.
And we talked about theimportance of that dash in
between and and how your legacy,how what you would be
remembered for, would would allbe summed up in that dash.
And so, you know, the same istrue for Ben Lippen for this
season for these students.
(11:36):
And so, you know, one of thethings that I think is important
is to recognize just that we'rehere for a season.
You know, this is you know,right now I'm the head of
school.
I won't forever be the head ofschool.
But for this season, how can Isteward well what I have before
me in a way that brings himglory and ultimately represents
the dash, right, for for BenLippen's existence, you know,
well.
And so personally, I think asstudents and as faculty staff
(11:58):
and and families, I think numberone is to recognize that we're
here for a season.
Number two is is really to makesure that we're there for
others.
You know, during the season,yeah, you know, the idea that
this too shall pass that is verytrue, the good and the bad.
It goes quickly.
But how do how do we be therefor others?
How do we celebrate them well?
How do we support them well?
How do we love them well?
You know, because ultimately,like we've talked about through
this whole thing, it is aboutrelationships and it's about the
(12:20):
ability to have a positiveimpact for the Lord because of
what he's done, because theunconditional love he's shown
through the birth and thenfuture death resurrection of his
son.
How do we represent that wellin our day-to-day interactions?
The better we can do that, themore beneficial that we will be
for the kingdom of God.
Mrs. Erin Kay (12:36):
Dr.
Porter, thank you for your timetoday and for leading our
school under the direction ofour Lord.
And listeners, if you haven'tlistened to the other four
episodes in this series, wewould like to encourage you to
go back and listen to what ourhigh school Bible teachers share
about hope, peace, joy, andlove.
Thank you again, Dr.
Porter, and Merry Christmas.
Dr. Ben Porter (12:55):
Merry Christmas.
Speaker (13:00):
As we conclude this Advent series, we remember that
the birth of Christ is not justthe beginning of a story, it is
the fulfillment of a promisespoken since the very first
pages of Scripture.
Jesus is our hope fulfilled,our peace restored, our love
personified, and our joy madecomplete.
Advent points us to the manger,but it also points us forward
(13:21):
to his return when every promisewill be made whole.
May the God who came downthrough Christ continue to draw
you near, and may your heart befilled with expectant faith this
Christmas season.
Christ has come, Christ ispresent, and Christ will come
again.
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