You probably know that the Christian year begins with the first Sunday of Advent (the fourth Sunday before Christmas) and that Christmas is the next season in this year. Did you know that the “liturgical” season of Christmas is only twelve days long – lasting from Christmas through Epiphany onContinue Reading
Some parts of the Bible come with questions and assumptions. The story of the visitors from the East is one. “Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod. After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is theContinue Reading
We saw him with our very own eyes. We gazed upon him and heard him speak. Our hands actually touched him, the one who was from the beginning,the Living Expression of God. This Life-Giver was made visibleand we have seen him.We testify to this truth:the eternal Life-Giverlived face-to-face with the Fatherand has now dawned uponContinue Reading
Have you ever found yourself DONE with Christmas as of December 25? You’ve spent weeks (maybe months) doing parties, presents, decorating, cooking, more presents, more gatherings, then church services and you are just done, Done, DONE! with Christmas? Or you’ve studied the Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 &Continue Reading
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption… (Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV) The had world waited for its Messiah. Suddenly, in the fullness of time, he came. ItContinue Reading
(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherds whoContinue Reading
(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherds whoContinue Reading
(We continue our look at the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Last time, we focused on Joseph’s response to Gabriel’s announcement that he was supposed to take Mary for his wife, even though she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.) Let’s go back to Joseph. Joseph could have chosen toContinue Reading
(We continue our look at the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Yesterday, we focused on the angel Gabriel’s messages to Zechariah and to Mary and their responses.) Even after Mary’s answer, Gabriel wasn’t done speaking yet. Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she became pregnant withContinue Reading
(Today I begin a series of posts that examines the Christmas Story found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. My prayer is that this helps us all understand more deeply that Story and keep it as our focus over these last days of Advent.) Let’s take a few minutes toContinue Reading