As I review last year, I’m impressed by how often God responded to the “little” asks. Like providing improved weather for Portland family members to get here safely on Christmas Eve despite freezing rain the day before. Or sending a specially ordered gift to my doorstep, several days early no less, when Amazon notified a shipping delay! OTHER EXAMPLES Numerous...
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Reflect: I can never read Isaiah 9:6 without hearing Handel’s Messiah,” movement 12, in my head. “For Unto us a Child is Born”...
Mt. of Olives—standing with my tour group, the sun hot on my back, I kept staring at the sight in front of me. Never would I have guessed that Jerusalem was only “down the hill” from here. I looked all around me. Somewhere on this hill, maybe the very spot I was standing, was where Jesus ascended to heaven! But...
Dear Readers, This Alfred Lord Tennyson poem written in the eighteen hundreds seems strangely fitting for our day, especially the last five verses. You might like to know that Ring Out, Wild Bells is taken from Tennyson’s long elegy, In Memoriam A. H. H., and is the last in a cycle of 133 cantos. It is a tribute to his...
By mid November, several people had told me they had already decorated for Christmas. When I expressed surprise, one person said, “Christmas just makes me happy.” Can we blame people for wanting “happy” to come early? And we’d like everything that Christmas symbolizes to stay around too! I recently heard a new song, “Christmas Every Day,” that David Archuleta released...
Dear Readers, Joanna’s story is a fictionalized account. I was inspired by Luke 8:1-3 and Luke 24:9-10 where she is mentioned along with Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and other women who supported Jesus. Asterisks connect to further information in the end notes. Joanna*, a servant of Jesus Christ, wife of Chuza*, steward of Herod’s household, To Luke, my dear brother in...
March is the month we celebrate St. Patrick’s day. Here’s to shamrocks, leprechauns and everything green! As a Christian, however, I prefer to remember St. Patrick himself, this great man of God known as the Apostle of Ireland. In the 5th century he converted the entire island to Christianity over a forty year period. As I was researching him, I...
I admire artists for their observational abilities. They notice things the less visually talented tend to miss. Do you ever wonder what it is that you might not be seeing as you walk through life? Luke 2:25-28 tells about a man with exceptional spiritual vision. The story goes like this: Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who...
Listen:I Peter 3:15, NIV: In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect. Reflect:The other day I attended a Zoom wedding. It was gratifying to see my friend get married again after a...
As is my tradition, the weekend of Thanksgiving I began putting up Christmas decorations. I have some favorite artificial flower arrangements. The red Amaryllis especially. After carefully extracting the arrangement from the plastic bag, I lifted it high to admire. Gasp. What? Who had nibbled the red berries? I checked the plant’s backside. A big gash in the stalk showed...
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And what it means to be a Christian today.
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