JOY AND PEACE
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13). Joy and peace are the two predominant themes of Christmas. Our carols are full of them: “Joy To The World,” “Silent Night,””Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” […]
GOD’S STEALTHY RESCUE PLAN
Christmas points to one of the most remarkable events in human history. That which had been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, often in cryptic terms, had been fulfilled – the birth of the Savior of mankind: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, […]
THE MIRACLE OF THE MANGER
Christmas is just around the corner and that is hard to miss – at least in the U.S. Outdoor lights and Christmas trees have been up for weeks, people have been busy shopping and stores have been busy luring customers with enticing sales on must-have items to give. Here in Kenya – not so much. […]
SEEING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST WITH EYES OF FAITH
Gotta get my two cents in at Christmas! Hope you don’t mind. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the paradox in the way we commemorate our Savior’s birth today. Most of us have forgotten that the nativity has been mixed with the pagan celebrations surrounding the winter equinox for centuries. The medieval popes actively […]
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
You may have heard and even sung along with the refrain to the beloved carol “Angels We Have Heard on HIgh:” Gloria in Excelsis Deo! Literally, that means “Glory in the highest to God.” We say and sing “glory to God” all the time in our worship. Jesus even instructed us to include it in […]
THE PECULIAR GLORY OF ADVENT
The weeks leading up to Christmas are called the Advent Season. I’ve found that knowledge of this season is hit or miss in Christian circles these days. Mainstream churches that observe an annual liturgical calendar are usually familiar with it and faithfully light the four candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. Meanwhile, I’ve been […]
SIMEON’S PROPHECY
Every year in late December we remember the miracle of Christ’s birth. The King of the universe, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings became a human being in the form of a tiny helpless baby. His arrival was inconspicuous and unglamorous – born in a smelly dirty stable with a feeding trough […]